First Report of the Peach Fruit Fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) Infesting Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) from North Gujarat, India

Abstract

Field surveys were conducted during the peak fruiting season May-July, 2024-25 at different districts of North Gujarat. Significant fruit fly damage was reported in date palmat Dantiwada and Mundra(Kutch district).  Adult flies were collected using methyl eugenol-baited parapheromone trapsand infested fruits were examined under laboratory conditions.Morphological and morphometric analyses identified the pest species as Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Females oviposited beneath the fruit epidermis and larval feeding caused extensive internal damage, resulting in fruit decay and rot. Molecular characterization using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene sequences confirmed species identity. Neighbor-Joining phylogenetic analysis showed that Gujarat populations clustered with B. zonata populations from India and Nepal, indicating close genetic relatedness, while showing moderate divergence from Iranian and Chinese populations.Protein structure prediction of the COI gene using the SWISS-MODEL server revealed monomeric, transmembrane-rich, predominantly α-helical protein structures with high confidence (GMQE=0.98). Ramachandran plot analysis confirmed excellent stereochemical quality of the predicted models. The integrated morphological, molecular and structural analyses confirm B. zonata as a serious pest of date palm in North Gujarat and provide baseline data for future monitoring and management programs.