Effects of different developmental stages of the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) on argan (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) edible oil and methanolic extracts, and development of eco-friendly control methods based on plant callus oils

Argan (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) is an endangered agroforestry species known for producing one of most expensive and sought-after oils in the world. Argan forests are a suitable habitat for medfly (Ceratitis capitata). To our knowledge, no study has investigated the potential effect of medfly on the quality of argan oils and extracts. The use of callus-derived oils from cactus (Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill.) and moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) as an eco-friendly approach to control medfly has never been explored. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of medfly at different developmental stages (i.e., egg, larva and pupa) on methanolic extracts and edible oil from unripe (i.e., green) and ripe (i.e., yellow) argan fruits, and to investigate the efficiency of cactus and moringa callus oils in controlling this pest. The antioxidant activity and reducing capacity varied depending on plant material, fruit maturity and medfly developmental stage. The highest antioxidant activity (98.48 %) and reducing capacity (14.49 mg GAE.g- 1 DM) of methanolic extracts were obtained from green fruit pulps and green fruit kernels, respectively, during pupa medfly infestation. The highest antioxidant activity (97.72 %) and reducing capacity (205.35 mu g GAE.g-1) of argan edible oil were obtained during larva medfly infestation. Egg infestation has the most negative impact on reducing capacity with 5.11 mu g GAE.g- 1 of edible oil compared to relative control (19.17 mu g GAE.g-1 edible oil). Argan edible oils were rich in unsaturated fatty acids (79.95-80.34 %) regardless of medfly developmental stage. Oleic (41.77-44.27 %) and linoleic (35.49-37.65 %) acids were the dominant fatty acids in all samples. Cactus callus-derived oils were more lethal to medfly (up to 100 % mortality) than moringa oils (up to 74.66 % mortality). 1,54-Dibromotetrapentacontane, 1,3,2-Dioxaborolane, 2,4-diethyl and 6-Hydroxy-hexan-2-one were the major bioactive components detected in cactus callus oil while (E)-9-Octadecenoic acid, ethyl ester and cis-Vaccenic acid were the predominant compounds in moringa callus oil.