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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 #355633
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: Effect of low-oxygen conditions created by modified atmosphere packaging on radiation tolerance in Drosophila Suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in sweet cherries

Author
item Follett, Peter
item Swedman, Allison
item Mackey, Bruce

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/16/2017
Publication Date: 12/18/2017
Citation: Follett, P.A., Swedman, A.L., Mackey, B.E. 2017. Effect of low-oxygen conditions created by modified atmosphere packaging on radiation tolerance in Drosophila Suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in sweet cherries. Journal of Economic Entomology. 10.1093/jee/tox337.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/tox337

Interpretive Summary: The use of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) increases the shelf life of fresh produce by decreasing respiration and the growth of pathogens. Low oxygen may also increase insect tolerance to irradiation, and the use of MAP with products treated by irradiation to control quarantine pests before export may inadvertently compromise treatment efficacy. Spotted wing drosophila is a quarantine pest of stone and small fruits and a potential target for postharvest irradiation treatment. The effect of low oxygen generated by MAP at ambient temperatures on the radiation tolerance of D.suzukii infesting sweet cherries was examined. None of the commercially available MAP bags tested enhanced survivorship from the pupal to the adult stage in D.suzukii pupae irradiated at 60Gy in sweet cherries. MAP use should not compromise phytosanitary irradiation treatment against D.suzukii in exported sweet cherries or other fruit.

Technical Abstract: Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) creates a low oxygen (O2) environment that can increase the shelf life of fresh produce by decreasing respiration and the growth of pathogens. Low oxygen may also increase insect tolerance to irradiation, and the use of MAP with products treated by irradiation to control quarantine pests before export may inadvertently compromise treatment efficacy. Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a quarantine pest of stone and small fruits and a potential target for postharvest irradiation treatment. The effect of low oxygen generated by MAP at ambient temperatures on the radiation tolerance of D.suzukii infesting sweet cherries was examined. Early pupal stage D.suzukii were inserted into ripe sweet cherries and treated by (1) MAP + irradiation (2) irradiation alone, (3) MAP alone, or (4) no MAP and no irradiation, and held for adult emergence. Three types of commercially available MAP products were tested that produced different oxygen concentrations between 3-15%, and a sublethal radiation dose (60Gy) was used to allow comparisons between treatments. Xtend® PP61 bags (3.2-4.8% O2), Xtend® PP71 bags (5.4-8.6% O2), and Xtend® PP53 bags (13.6-15.4% O2) did not enhance survivorship to the adult stage in D. suzukii pupae irradiated at 60Gy in sweet cherries. MAP use should not compromise phytosanitary irradiation treatment against D.suzukii in exported sweet cherries or other fruit.