Facilitating Farmers’ Monitoring Access to the Hemolymph of Codling Moth Larvae Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus, 1758) for Informed Decision-Making and Control Strategies in Apple Orchards

Paschalis Giannoulis () and Helen Kalorizou
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Paschalis Giannoulis: Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Patras, New Buildings, 30200 Missolonghi, Greece
Helen Kalorizou: Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Patras, New Buildings, 30200 Missolonghi, Greece

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-28

Abstract: The codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.) represents a substantial threat to the apple tree industry, with its cellular content being agronomically vital as it serves as the final immunological and toxicological barrier of the pest. Key hemocyte types identified in the hemolymph include plasmatocytes, granulocytes, spherulocytes, and oenocytoids. Hemolymph samples were in vitro suspended in various salt buffers (physiological saline, phosphate saline buffer (PBS) and Galleria mellonella anticoagulant buffer) to determine the most suitable one for agricultural monitoring purposes. The pH influenced the total hemocyte counts and the type of cells that adhered to the slides. PBS (pH 6.5) was found to be optimal for such studies due to its high levels of cellular attachment, cell viability, absence of melanization, and cellular degeneration effects. The supplementation of 5% CaCl 2 to PBS did not enhance the functional utility of the buffer. The in vivo bacterial challenge of larval hemolymph with 4 × 10 8 sp/mL Bacillus subtilis provided complete clearance from the microbial invader within 30 min. Hemocytes released antimicrobial lysozyme as part of their innate immune responses. Hemocytic examination of larvae as an agricultural practice is strongly recommended for baseline insecticide resistance avoidance and predictive efficiency of integrated pest management in the apple farm.

Keywords: insect hemocytes; insect immunity at orchard level; agricultural services (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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