Disinfestation of mangoes with gamma irradiation against two Australian fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae).
Heather N. W., Corcoran R. J., Banos C.
Author Affiliation: Entomology Branch, Department of Primary Industries, Meiers Road, Indooroopilly, Qld. 4068, Australia.
Journal of Economic Entomology 84 : 1304-1307
Abstract : 'Kensington' mangoes infested with 24-h-old eggs or 5-day-old larvae of Bactrocera tryoni and B. jarvisi were successfully disinfested with gamma radiation at a dose of 74-101 Gy. In trials in which >100?000 individuals of these stages of each species were treated, no adults emerged. Although this mortality rate assured quarantine security to Probit 9 (99?9968% mortality) at the 95% confidence level, continuation of development of some treated eggs and 5-day-old larvae to the pupal stage could cause doubts about the effectiveness of a treatment at a subsequent inspection. Preharvest pest management should be used to eliminate the incidence of infested treated fruit during routine quarantine inspections after treatment.