La mosca delle olive Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) e il suo rapporto con la drupa

The Olive fly Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is the most harmful species that threatens the olive crop production worldwide. To date, the molecular mechanisms of host response associated with olive fly attack are still largely unexplored. The knowledge of the defense mechanisms activated by the plant can lead to the identification of genes that play a key role in olive defense and it may be exploited for insect control. The results of few transcriptomic and proteomic investigations of the molecular response of the drupe in olive varieties with different levels of susceptibility are available. Drupe response to olive fly attack involve an extensive transcriptome reprogramming modifying the expression of thousands of genes included in a wide range of pathways. Major modifications are related to the biosynthesis of jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, ethylene, flavonoid and related VOCs. In addition, the modification of transcript levels active in the regulation of defense genes was observed. New insights into the molecular mechanisms of olive genetic resistance to B. oleae and the related defense responses can be suitable to the development of more sustainable pest management strategies.