Low-dose irradiation as a treatment for grapefruit and mangoes infested with Caribbean fruit fly larvae.
Burditt A. K. Jr., Moshonas M. G., Hatton T. T., Spalding D. H., Windeguth D. L. von, Shaw P. E.
Author Affiliation: Subtropical Horticulture Research Unit, ARS, USDA, Miami, Florida 33158, USA.
: iii + 9 pp.
Abstract : Studies were carried out in the USA on the use of irradiation (exposure to gamma -radiation and X-rays) as a possible treatment for Florida-grown grapefruit and mangoes infested by larvae of Anastrepha suspensa (Lw.). Treatment of infested fruit at doses of 10-20 krad prevented the development of adults. Grapefuit treated at 25-60 krad had increased skin pitting, scald and decay. For some treatments, the taste of pasteurised juice from irradiated fruit differed significantly from that of controls, and the taste of fresh juice and sections and the aroma of peel oil from fruit treated with X-rays differed significantly from that of controls. There was a slight reduction in the vitamin C content of irradiated fruit. The compound beta -pinene [6,6-dimethyl-2-methylenebicyclo[3.1.1]heptane] was absent from fruit irradiated at 50 krad. Irradiated mangoes had surface-blemish injury that was related to dosage.