Quarantine treatment of avocados against Bactrocera tryoni
Studies conducted in Australia have shown that a quarantine treatment combining hot fungicide dip followed by cold storage could eliminate Bactrocera tryoni (EPPO A1 quarantine pest) on avocados. Avocados (Persea americana cv. Hass) artificially infested with immature stages of B. tryoni were dipped for 3 min in 500 ppm benomyl at 46 øC, allowed to dry and then stored at 1.0 + 0.2 øC. During these experiments it was found that the third larval instars were the most tolerant to the treatment. However, none of the ; 200.000 third instars infesting avocados survived to pupation after hot fungicide dip and storage at 1 øC for 15.63 days. The author felt that such a treatment which can be used for quarantine purposes and which allows extension of the storage period of avocados could easily be applied during refrigerated sea freight in transit.
Sources
Jessup, A.J. (1994) Quarantine disinfestation of 'Hass' avocados against Bactrocera tryoni (Diptera: Tephritidae) with a hot fungicide dip followed by cold storage.
Entomological Society of America, 87 (1), 127-130.