The Tropical Fruit Forum

Last year I was buying Mangos from small Kona growers to acquire fresh seed for rootstock and pig out on delicious Kona Mangos. The ones from Kailua Kona proper (3 different places)  75lbs total had 25% damage from the seed weevil. Keitt and Haden. The ones gifted from a friend in Mauna Lani (Brooks Late) were clean 0%. As far as I know the Mango Seed Weevil couldn't care less re. cvs. I am guessing this is a common problem in Kailua Kona during harvest season due to the close proximity of trees and rotten fruit left on the ground.? It is a good sized  1/4" beetle and a pretty good flyer. Some emerged ones were buzzing my kitchen where my seeds were drying until I caught on to the problem. Weird how they don't really affect the fruit quality.

You folks in Fla might want to be aware of this literal monster beetle. It came into Hawaii on military transport and is killing trees on Oahu it is spread in mulch. Hawaii Dept Of Ag is waging a good fight here but better to keep it out if possible. The crowns die back and once you see that it is too late.
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/info/invasive-species-profiles/coconut-rhinoceros-beetle/

For those interested the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources started a Mango study that it ongoing. The researchers there are looking into organic alternatives for anthracnose control and chemical floral initiation for Mangos. See link.https://youtu.be/CSrNMayDeg8.
Unfortunately the current admin in Washington is swinging the chainsaw at programs like this and the people who run them. For me it is personal, I have friends Phd's who's jobs are threatened. I worked for the USDA under Dr Alverez doing fungicide trials on Papaya's in the summer of 1980, I was the guy in the hazmat suit spraying fungicides in Kapoho in the summer heat. Such work is very difficult critical to the the industry. I know I risk a backlash saying this but to whoever is reading. Please contact your Congress person and plead for USDA programs to be exempted from the swinging chainsaw wielded by those who know not of what they do or who do not care. I would not have been able to do what I have done w/o USDA programs I feel really bad for those who have cost sharing  USDA contracts for mtls and work done who are awaiting reimbursement which may not come.