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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #355201
Research Project: Pre-and Postharvest Treatment of Tropical Commodities to Improve Quality and Increase Trade Through Quarantine Security

Location: Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research

Title: Postharvest irradiation treatment for quarantine control of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)(Thysanoptera: Thripinae).

Author
item NICHOLAS, ADRIAN - Department Of Primary Industries
item Follett, Peter

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/2/2018
Publication Date: 4/5/2018
Citation: Nicholas, A., Follett, P.A. 2018. Postharvest irradiation treatment for quarantine control of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)(Thysanoptera: Thripinae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 111(3):1185-1189. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toy073.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toy073

Interpretive Summary: The western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis is an important pest of fresh horticultural produce and as such is considered a biosecurity risk in many countries from which it is absent. Irradiation trials by two independent laboratories in Hawaii and Australia showed that a dose rate of 250Gy sterilized all adults and caused 100% mortality of adults and immature life stages, effectively preventing the reproduction and survival of F.occidentalis. At 250Gy, the effective dose rate is significantly below the internationally accepted limit of 400Gy, demonstrating that irradiation at this lowered level is an effective method for the disinfestation of F.occidentalis from fresh horticultural produce.

Technical Abstract: Thrips are a major pest of horticultural crops, causing direct damage and transmitting plant diseases. The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), is a polyphagous pest that attacks the flowers and foliage of nearly 250 plant hosts in 64 plant families. Frankliniella occidentalis is indigenous to North America, but since 1980 has spread to countries throughout the world. However, many countries remain free of F.occidentalis where it remains a quarantine pest posing a significant threat to glasshouse and outdoor crops, and as such is considered a biosecurity risk in many countries from which it is absent. Irradiation trials by two independent laboratories in Hawaii and Australia showed that a dose rate of 250Gy sterilized all adults and caused 100% mortality of adults and immature life stages, effectively preventing the reproduction and survival of F.occidentalis. At 250Gy, the effective dose rate is significantly below the internationally accepted limit of 400 Gy, demonstrating that irradiation at this lowered level is an effective method for the disinfestation of F.occidentalis from fresh horticultural produce.