Promising management of two destructive insect pests of pomegranates(Punica granatumL.) in Tunisia through the optimization of harvesting time

This work was set up to characterize the incidence of Ectomyelois ceratoniae and Virachola livia, to link infestation with pomegranates maturity and insects’ densities and to identify potential resistant/tolerant varieties. Three Tunisian pomegranate cultivars (Tounsi, Gebsi,Gares) grown under oasian conditions were employed. Fruit and juice chemical compositions were determined from green fruit to maturity. Moreover, fruit infestation rates were assessed at each stage. Results indicated that infestation increased as fruits ripened. Results pointed out that pomegranate infestation was related to changes in fruit composition mainly titrable acidity, total soluble solids and total phenolics and flavonoids contents.