Assessment of date palm susceptibility and fruit damage caused by the date palm mite in Algeria

Nia et al 2026
Published: May 1, 2026
Keywords:
Boufaroua Deglet Noor variety infestation integrated pest management (IPM) Oligonychus afrasiaticus physicochemical properties Tetranychidae Ziban
Billal Nia
a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:64:"Scientific and Technical Research Centre for Arid Areas (CRSTRA)";}
Djenette Elbar
Scientific and Technical Research Centre for Arid Areas (CRSTRA), 07017 Biskra
Mokhtar Mehenni
Scientific and Technical Research Centre for Arid Areas (CRSTRA), 07017 Biskra
Messoud Roumani
Abdelkrim Rekis
Scientific and Technical Research Centre for Arid Areas (CRSTRA), 07017 Biskra
Nacima Deghiche-Diab
Mohammed Faci
Scientific and Technical Research Centre for Arid Areas (CRSTRA), 07017 Biskra
Abderhmane Aksa
Scientific and Technical Research Centre for Arid Areas (CRSTRA), 07017 Biskra
Mohamed Mesnoua
Scientific and Technical Research Centre for Arid Areas (CRSTRA), 07017 Biskra
Abstract

The date palm mite (DPM), Oligonychus afrasiaticus McGregor, 1939 (Acari: Tetranychidae), is a major pest that negatively affects date palm fruit production. This study investigated the susceptibility of several Algerian date palm cultivars to DPM infestation and assessed its effects on fruit quality in the widely cultivated cultivar Deglet Noor (DN). Field surveys revealed high infestation rates in DN compared with the other cultivars examined. Further analyses focused on the effects of DPM infestation on DN fruits. The results showed that DPM infestation significantly affected fruit moisture content, pH, sugar content, and weight. These findings confirm the pest status of DPM and demonstrate that it reduces fruit quality in ways that may adversely affect both marketability and nutritional value. The study highlights the importance of implementing integrated pest management programs specifically targeting DPM in order to minimize fruit damage and sustain date palm production in Algeria.


 

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