ARS | Publication request: Response of white peach scale to metabolic stress disinfection and disinfestation (MSDD) treatment

Submitted to: Hawaiian Entomological Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: May 10, 2010
Publication Date: December 31, 2010
Citation: Galarza, L., Neumann, G., Follett, P.A. 2010. Response of white peach scale to metabolic stress disinfection and disinfestation (MSDD) treatment. Hawaiian Entomological Society Proceedings. 42:49-52.

Interpretive Summary: Quarantine pest must be controlled in fresh commodities before they can be exported from Hawaii. This often means applying a quarantine treatment after harvest such as heat of irradiation to control the pest in the commodity. MSDD is a new type of postharvest treatment that combines short periods of low pressure (vacuum) and high CO2 with ethanol vapor to control pathogens and arthropod pests on commodities. MSDD was tested against white peach scale, a serious pest of papaya in Hawaii. Application of low pressure (which causes low partial pressure of O2) and high CO2 alone had no effect on mortality of second stage nymphs, but the combination of low pressure/CO2 and ethanol vapor killed 98% of the individuals tested. This treatment has potential as a disinfestation treatment for surface pests on fresh commodities.

Technical Abstract: Metabolic stress disinfection and disinfestation (MSDD) is a postharvest treatment that combines short periods of low pressure (vacuum) and high CO2 with ethanol vapor to control pathogens and arthropod pests on commodities. The system was tested against white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti) (Homoptera: Diaspididae), a serious pest of papaya in Hawaii. Application of low pressure (which causes low partial pressure of O2) and high CO2 alone had no effect on mortality of second stage nymphs, but the combination of low pressure and ethanol vapor killed 98% of the individuals tested. This treatment has potential as a disinfestation treatment for surface pests on fresh commodities.