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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #210651
Title: Potential for High Hydrostatic Pressure Processing to Control Quarantine Insects in Fruit

Author
item Neven, Lisa
item Follett, Peter
item RAGHUBEER, ERROL - AVURE TECHNOLOGIES, WA

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2007
Publication Date: 10/9/2007
Citation: Neven, L.G., Follett, P.A., Raghubeer, E. 2007. Potential for High Hydrostatic Pressure Processing to Control Quarantine Insects in Fruit. Journal of Economic Entomology. 100(5):1499-1503.

Interpretive Summary: The presence of internal feeding pests in apples and sweet cherries causes the imposition of various quarantine restrictions on the export of these fruits. Scientists at the USDA-ARS laboratories in Yakima, Washington and Hilo, Hawaii collaborated to determine the potential of high hydrostatic pressures (HPP) for killing codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) and Western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran, in apples and sweet cherries. Apples with larvae or eggs of codling moth were treated at a series of pressures between 14,000 and 26,000 psi. Codling moth eggs were more tolerant of HPP treatment than larvae. Mortality of larvae was 97% at 22,000 psi, whereas mortality of eggs at this dose was 29% and not significantly different from the untreated controls. In a second study, no eggs hatched at any high pressure treatment between 30,000-80,000 psi. Western cherry fruit fly treated at pressures from 10,000 to 45,000 psi showed that the egg and third instar stages were more tolerant of HPP than the first and second instar stages. Mortality was 100% in Western cherry fruit fly eggs and larvae at 25,000 psi. Apple and sweet cherry quality after high pressure treatment was poor, but high pressure may have applications to control quarantine pests in other fruits such as avocado and mango.

Technical Abstract: Tests were conducted to determine the potential for high hydrostatic pressure (HPP) to control codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) and Western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran. Apples with larvae or eggs of codling moth were treated 24 h and 72 h, respectively, after infestation at a series of pressures between 14,000 and 26,000 psi. Survivorship was determined the next day for larvae and after 10 d for eggs. Codling moth eggs were more tolerant of HPP treatment than larvae. Mortality of larvae was 97% at 22,000 psi, whereas mortality of eggs at this dose was 29% and not significantly different from the untreated controls. In a second study, no eggs hatched at any high pressure treatment between 30,000-80,000 psi, indicating these pressures were lethal. Studies with Western cherry fruit fly at pressures from 10,000 to 45,000 psi indicated that the eggs and third instars were more tolerant of HPP than the first and second instars. Mortality was 100% in Western cherry fruit fly eggs and larvae at 25,000 psi. Apple and sweet cherry quality after high pressure treatment was poor, but high pressure may have applications to control quarantine pests in other fruits such as avocado and mango.