Hot-air treatment device for quarantine research.
Sharp J. L., Gaffney J. J., Moss J. I., Gould W. P.
Author Affiliation: Subtropical Horticulture Research Station, ARS, USDA, Miami, FL 33158, USA.
Journal of Economic Entomology 84 : 520-527
Abstract : A hot-air treatment device to be used in quarantine research to disinfest fruits of pests is described. The device consists of instruments mounted to a 1.905-cm thick plywood structure (1.2 m long by 1.2 m wide by 2.44 m high) with an insulated door. Relays, fuses, heater, fan, steam generator, airflow meter, dew-point sampling system and thermocouple wires are connected to electricity and to each other through a main power panel and to a computer. The software used controlled air at precise dry-bulb and dew-point temperatures for selected time durations to prevent condensation on fruit surfaces and fruit desiccation. Air mass flow rate was adjustable with a variable speed control. When 'Keitt' mangoes infested with larvae of Anastrepha suspensa, were treated with air at 51.67°C for 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 min, mortality was 20, 45, 79, 96, 100 and 100%, resp. The estimated treatment time for 99.9968% mortality was 101 min.