Population Fluctuation of Phytophagous Mites and Their Impact on the Quality Properties of Wild and Cultivated Blackberry Fruits (Rubus spp. L.) in Jalisco, Mexico

Phytophagous mites are considered pests in fruit crops, such as blackberries (Rubus spp. L.). These pests affect fruit quality and commercial value. This study aimed to evaluate the fluctuation of phytophagous mite populations and their impact on the quality of cultivated and wild blackberries in Jalisco, Mexico. Monthly sampling was carried out from November 2023 to May 2024. Mite families such as Diptilomiopidae, Eriophyidae, Tydeidae, Tarsonemidae, Tenuipalpidae, and Tetranychidae were identified, with a total of 6438 mites in the samples. An increase in mite populations was observed in March on cultivated blackberries and in April on wild ones, coinciding with the onset of plant development. The Eriophyidae family showed the highest relative abundance, with 34.2% in cultivated blackberries and 31.7% in wild ones in 2024. Quality parameters were evaluated in healthy and damaged blackberries. Damaged cultivated fruits showed lower weight (4.49 ± 1.44 g), smaller diameter (18.11 ± 2.00 mm), lower vitamin C content (4.76 ± 1.53 mg/100 g), and higher acidity (80.07 ± 19.10%). This study enabled the identification and monitoring of different mite families in blackberries, as well as an understanding of their population dynamics and impact on fruit quality.