The effect of fruit thinning on apple leafroller Bonagota cranaodes (Meyrick, 1937) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) damage was evaluated in commercial orchards of Fuji and Gala cultivars. At harvest, appies produced in clusters of two, three or four fruits and isolated ones were evaluated for percentage of pest damage. A positive correlation between lhe number of fruits per cluster and percentage of appie leafroller damage was observed. The injury to fruits was higher during late season cultivar Fuji (harvested in April) than early season Gala (February). Fruits produced in isolated floral buds were significativelly less damaged by the pest than in cluster, indicating that is possible Io use apple thinning to reduce apple leafroller damage in commercial orchards.
Insecta; apple leafroller; fruit damage; cultural control
