Effect of insecticidal atmospheres on the mortality of fruit flies in mango.
Rojas Villegas R., Avena Bustillos R., Silveira M., Carrillo López A., Yahia E. M.
Author Affiliation: Instituto Tecnológico de Culiacán, Sinaloa, México.
Acta Horticulturae : 89-92
Abstract : Mango fruits (cv. Haden) were infested with fruit fly eggs (Anastrepha serpentina) and stored in 4-litre glass jars under modified atmospheres (MA) for one to 5 days at 25°C. Initial MA compositions were 0.25, 0.5 or 2.0% O2 with 50 or 70% CO2. A 250 ml/min flow of MA gas mixture was applied for one hour and the jars were then sealed. After storage in MA, fruits were kept in air at 25° for 10 days before larvae harvesting and mortality evaluation. An experimental 100% egg mortality was achieved in 3 days in fruits held in 0.25% O2 with 50% CO2 or 0.5% O2 with 50% CO2. Experimental 100% mortality was achieved in 4 days in all MA treatments. However, predictive models indicated that a Probit 9 mortality level could be reached after 4 days with an initial atmosphere of 0.25% O2 with 70% CO2, and this is suggested as a possible quarantine control measure for A. serpentina eggs in Haden mangoes held at 25°.