TECHNOLOGY & PRODUCT REPORTS mportation of mangoes and other tropical fruits into the U.S. has Isteadily increased from Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean islands. U.S. regulations Technology prevent importation of horticultural commodities that have not received an approved quarantine treatment assuring Probit 9 level (i.e., 99.999% & Product mortality of potentially invasive insect pests). Numerous fruit fl y species that are potential threats to U.S. agriculture infest tropical areas where mangoes and Reports other tropical fruits are grown. Among the most economically important are members of the genus Anastrepha, Optimal Low-pressure Conditions for including caribbean fruit fl y, mexican fruit fl y, guava fruit fl y, inga fruit fl y, Long-term Storage of Fresh Commodities south american fruit fl y, sapote fruit fl y, and west indian fruit fl y (Aluja and Kill Caribbean Fruit Fly Eggs and Larvae Liedo, 1990). Adult fl ies oviposit eggs beneath the skin of immature fruit, 1 2 1 producing larvae that destroy the pulp Thomas L. Davenport , Stanley P. Burg , and Thomas L. White as mangos ripen. Because imported mangoes are likely to be exposed to ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. hypobaric storage, vacuum, tropical fruit, mango, Man- these pests, they must undergo a U.S. gifera indica, carambola, Averrhoa carambola, ‘Thai’ guava, Psidium guajava, Department of Agriculture, Animal quarantine treatment, Anastrepha suspensa, respiration and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS)-approved hot-water SUMMARY. U.S. regulations prevent importation of fresh horticultural commodi- ties that have not received an approved quarantine treatment assuring 99.999% quarantine treatment prior to packing (Probit 9) mortality of potentially invasive insect pests. Because imported man- in order to disinfest fruit of the various goes (Mangifera indica) are likely to be infested by the caribbean fruit fl y (Anas- fruit fl y species (Sharp, 1986; Sharp et trepha suspensa) and other tropical fruit fl ies in the Americas, such as the mexican al., 1988, 1989a, 1989b). fruit fl y (A. ludens), guava fruit fl y (A. striata), inga fruit fl y (A. distincta), south Growers commonly harvest fruit american fruit fl y (A. fraterculus), sapote fruit fl y (A. serpentina), and the west before horticultural maturity in order indian fruit fl y (A. obliqua), they must be hot-water treated prior to shipment to extend the storage life during long- in order to satisfy quarantine requirement. Hot water treatment often dam- distance shipment in refrigerated inter- ages the fruit, especially if it is not fully mature. Hypobaric [low pressure (LP)] modal containers. This practice results intermodal shipping containers developed by the VacuFresh Corp. preserve fresh in poor eating quality for consumers commodities, such as horticulturally mature mangoes, far longer than is possible using other technologies. We tested the ability of caribbean fruit fl y eggs and lar- and manifestation of physiological vae to survive simulated optimal hypobaric conditions for shipment of mangoes disorders that have led to rejection of [15 and 20 mm mercury (Hg), ≥98% relative humidity, 13 °C (the lowest, safe shipments when immature fruit are nonchilling temperature)]. Caribbean fruit fl y eggs or larvae were maintained heat treated to comply with current on agar media, fl ushed with one air change per hour at the storage pressure, and quarantine regulations. The added shielded with Mylar to prevent radiant heat uptake and limit evaporative cooling. cost for equipment, maintenance, and Nearly 98% of the eggs and larvae were killed within 1 week at 15 and 20 mm USDA/APHIS personnel to oversee Hg in nine replicated experiments. All eggs were killed by 11 days with a pre- the hot-water treatments has caused dicted kill of 99.999% of the eggs by 9.4 days in 15 mm Hg and 10.6 days in 20 some packers to forgo the treatment mm Hg LP (based on Probit 9 statistical analysis), whereas a substantial number and ship their fruit to Europe, where of eggs survived to 14 days at atmospheric pressure (760 mm Hg). Shipment of fresh produce using this technology promises to provide quarantine control quarantine treatments are not required. while preserving the freshness of fully mature tropical fruits and vegetables. Moreover, heat treatment is certifi ed as 1University of Florida, IFAS, Tropical Research and Educa- tion Center, 18905 SW 280 St., Homestead, FL 33031. Units 2VacuFreshSM Corporation, 3770 Kent Ct., Coral Gables, To convert U.S. to SI, multiply by U.S. unit SI unit To convert SI to U.S., multiply by FL 33133. 29.5735 fl oz mL 0.0338 This research was supported by the Florida Agricultural 3.7854 gal L 0.2642 Experiment Station and a grant from USDA/SBIR grant 2.5400 inch(es) cm 0.3937 No. 2001-00239 and approved for publication as Journal 25.4000 inch(es) mm 0.0394 Series No. R-10711. We thank Dr. Bob Heath, USDA/ 6.4516 inch2 cm2 0.1550 ARS, Miami, for access to the fl y-rearing laboratory and to Pauline Mendoz for her assistance in preparing eggs 0.4536 lb kg 2.2046 and larvae. We also thank Kenneth M. Portier and James 0.1333 mm Hg kPa 7.5006 C. Colee, Department of Statistics, IFAS, University of 28.3495 oz g 0.0353 Florida, for statistical analysis of the results. (°F – 32) ÷ 1.8 °F °C (1.8 × °C) + 32 98 ● January–March 2006 16(1) JJan06HT.indban06HT.indb 9988 112/2/052/2/05 44:44:49:44:49 PPMM a means to disinfest mangoes weighing tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) together. search on the impact of LP on the larvae up to only 750 g, and many growers Numerous others have since reported of fruit fl y species that commonly infest desire to ship larger fruit. Growers high insect mortality in LP (Calderon mangoes and other tropical fruits. The producing ‘Keitt’ mango fruit are and Leesch, 1983; Calderon and Na- purpose of the present research was to particularly hampered by these con- varro, 1968; Calderon et al., 1966; determine if the optimal mango storage straints due to the large size of this Cline and Highland, 1987; Navarro condition in a refrigerated VacuFresh popular cultivar. et al., 2001; Thorton and Sullivan, intermodal container reliably kills all Refrigerated low-pressure inter- 1964; Villers, 2001; Yi et al., 1992). caribbean fruit fl y eggs and larvae modal cargo containers can revolu- Viability of six species of common during a minimal transit time. This tionize the long-distance shipping of stored-product insects at 18 or 25 °C species is common throughout tropical fresh, horticulturally mature fruits and and pressures between 10 and 20 mm America and is typical of several fruit vegetables that have a short storage Hg was examined in containers fi lled fl y types of quarantine concern in the life (Burg, 2004). Low oxygen (O2) with a wheat (Triticum aestivum) load U.S. and Caribbean basin. If fruit fl ies partial pressure and creation of a nearly (Calderon et al., 1966). The low pres- can be killed in-transit, use of such a ethylene- and carbon dioxide (CO2)- sures caused 100% mortality of larval shipping container would eliminate the free atmosphere inside and around and adult forms of the almond moth need for costly hot-water quarantine the stored product prevent bacterial (Ephestia cautella), saw-toothed grain treatment for the fruit fl ies. and mold growth and allow mature beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis), mangoes and other tropical fruits to be rust-red fl our beetle (Trilobium casta- Materials and methods maintained for months without risk of neum), cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus LOW PRESSURE AND AMBIENT ripening or loss of “tree ripe” quality maculates), rice weevil (Sitophilus ory- PRESSURE SYSTEMS. A lab-scale vacuum (Alavarez, 1979, 1980; Apelbaum and zae), and khapra beetle (Trigoderma (LP) system was constructed that was Barkai-Golan, 1977; Borecka, 1986; granarium) within 120 h at both capable of creating the temperature, Burg, 1975, 2004; Chau and Alvarez, 18 and 25 °C. Adults of the almond relative humidity (RH), pressure, and 1983; Dilley, 1977; Wells, 1974). moth, saw-toothed grain beetle, and airfl ow conditions that are optimal Cold-tolerant commodities, such as cowpea weevil, and adults and larvae for shipment of tropical fruits such as strawberries (Fragaria ×ananassa) (Ja- of the rust-red fl our beetle were killed mango in a VacuFresh container. The mieson, 1980b), mushrooms (unspeci- within 7 h. Within the 50- to 300-mm system consisted of three Nalgene 20- fi ed species) and asparagus (Asparagus Hg range coupled with temperatures L, polycarbonate vacuum desiccators offi cinalis) (Dilley, 1977), sweet cher- varying from 5 to 37.5 °C, the mor- (Nalge Nunc International, Rochester, ries (Prunus avium) (Borecka, 1986), tality of eggs of four common species N.Y.) housed in each of two Conviron most types of fl owers, cuttings, and of stored-product insects, indian meal model PGW36 environmentally con- potted plants (Burg, 1973, 2004), and moth (Plodia interpunctella), lesser trolled rooms (Conviron, Winnipeg, numerous types of vegetables (Burg, grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica), Man., Canada) within which the 1990, 2004) are best stored in LP at almond moth (Cadra cautella), and temperatures were maintained at 13 ± pressures of 10 to 15 mm Hg. All fruits rust-red fl our beetle, increased with 0.5 °C. Two of the desiccators in each stored in LP conditions ripen normally greater exposure to conditions of lower room were used for LP storage and the 3 to 4 d after transfer to air at 25 °C pressures at a given temperature, or third provided standard atmospheric with excellent eating quality (Burg, higher temperatures at a given pressure pressure (760 mm Hg) comparison 2004; Spalding and Reeder, 1976).