Defense dynamics in walnut fruit during walnut husk fly (Rhagoletis completa Cresson) infestation : an integrative, multi-level analysis : research data underlying the article

Grohar, Mariana Cecilia (author), Zamljen, Tilen (author), Medič, Aljaž (author), Šimkova, Kristyna (author), Vidrih, Rajko (author), Veberič, Robert (author)

The walnut husk fly is a critical pest affecting global walnut production, causing economic losses of up to 40-50%. WHF larvae feed within the walnut husk creating necrotic spots, which compromise kernel quality and marketability. In this research, the metabolic defense mechanism of the walnut fruit was targeted including several primary and secondary metabolites (sugars, volatiles, phenolics, fatty acids, carotenoids), enzymes (phenylalanine-ammonia lyase, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, glutamine synthetase), and antioxidant activities, using HPLC-MS/MS, GC-MS, and different spectrophotometric methods. Results revealed localized and tissue-specific metabolic responses, with significant changes in volatiles and phenolics, especially naphthoquinones and sesquiterpenes, and enzyme activities. Additionally, prolonged infestations severely affected kernel quality by reducing the content of unsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids, potentially due to oxidative stress and arrested fruit growth. Understanding these defense mechanisms is essential to mitigate economic losses and food waste, ensuring sustainable walnut production through targeted interventions and improved pre- and post-harvest treatments.

• Language: English
• Keywords: sugars, organic acids, fatty acids, kernel, husk, enzymes, phenolics, volatiles, ethylene, Rhagoletis completa, Juglans regia, GC-MS, HPLC-MS
• Typology: 2.20 - Complete scientific database of research data
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Year: 2024
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-166368
• Data col. methods: Experiment; Experiment: Field/Intervention; Measurements and tests: Physical
• Publication date in RUL: 10.01.2025

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: sladkorji, organske kisline, maščobne kisline, jedrce, lupina, encimi, hlapne snovi, etilen

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: Z4-50136
• Name: Metabolomika interakcij med rastlino in patogenom v orehih: večstranski pristop k vplivu bakterijske črne pegavosti ter orehove muhe na plod in olje.

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P4-0013
• Name: Hortikultura