AP95020 Pre-storage treatment for non-chemical disinfestation of pears and apples, 1999 S Kriedl ...

133 Pages·2006·6.21 MB·English

AP95020
Pre-storage treatment for non-chemical
disinfestation of pears and apples, 1999
S Kriedl. R Holmes, A Jessup & F de
Lima
Agriculture Victoria, IHD
AP9S020
This report is published by tiie Horticultural Research and
Development Corporation to pass on information concerning
horticultural research and development undertaken for the
2^ple and pear industry.
The research contained in this report was funded by the
Horticultural Research and Development Corporation with
the financial support of the i^ple and pear industry and tiie
Baker Foundation.
All expressions of opinion are not to be r^arded as e3q>ressing
the opinion of the Horticultural Researdi and Development
Corporation or any authority of the Australian Government.
The Corporation and the Australian Government accept no
responsibihty for any of the opinions or tiie accuracy of the
information contained in this report and readers should rely
upon their own enquiries in making decisions omceming their
own interests.
Cover price: $20.00
HRDC ISBN 1 86423 988 3
PubUshed and distributed by:
Horticultural Research & Development Corporation
Level 6
7 Merriwa Street
Gordon NSW 2072
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-Mail: [email protected]
© Copyright 2000
HORTICULTURAL
RESEARCH &
DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION
ORDVC
Partnership in
horticulture
Natural Kesourccs
and Environment
AGSICliLTURe
lONStnVATION
lAkO M«.>IAGtM£NT Pre-storage treatment for non-chemical
disinfestation of pears and apples
11 l{ I>U
HRDC Project Number: AP95020
w (31''December 1999)
CSIRO
PLANT
INDUSTRY
dm A "BJ'Jr.Uwii Simone Kreidl
\{;>^\s!sbci.iik.'nlnr
Robert Holmes
Ihc
Andrew Jessup
Baker
Francis de Lima
I'lUSt j
[)EP\kiMrM()r\(,Ri(iini(F
Institute for Horticultural Development
Agriculture Victoria
N.SW Ai^ru-iiltuiX'
Private Bag 15
I
South Eastern Mail Centre VIC 3176
AGRICULTURC
AbKuIKMrnitaOss:oifitah e
Dcporlment of
Natuioi ftfasourcns
ond EnvironTtonf
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HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Final Report 31/12/99
Project Title: Pre-storage treatment for non-chemical disinfestation of
pears and apples
HRDC Project No.: AP95020
Principal Investigator: Robert Holmes
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Institute for Horticultural Development
Private Bag 15 South Eastern Mail Centre VIC 3176
Project Team:
Christian Chervin, Simone Kreidl, Andrew Hamilton, Robert Holmes, Steven
Whitmore, Peter Williams, Peter Franz, Andrew Jessup (NSW Ag), Francis de Lima (WA
Ag), John Faragher, Sharmeen Tabatabai, Sarita Kulkami, H. Collie (WA Ag), E. Cross (WA
Ag), Thierry Thomann (INRA France), Jean Vitou (INRA France), Robert Walker (CSIRO),
Peter Merriman, Margaret Williams (DPIWE Tas).
Acknowledgments:
This research was supported financially by Agriculture Victoria, the Australian Apple
and Pear Grower's Association, The Baker Trust, CSIRO, Department of Agriculture Western
Australia, the Horticultural Research and Development Corporation and New South Wales
Agriculture.
We would like to thank the following people -
Peter Franz for biometrical support.
Graeme Anderson, Margaret Williams, Marion Eslick and Graham Thwaite for assistance
with establishing codling moth colonies.
Janyce Truett and Pam Rogers for assistance with the set up and maintenance of coolroom
and controlled atmosphere systems.
Any recommendations contained in this publication do not necessarily represent current
HRDC policy. No person should act on the basis of the contents of this publication, whether
as to matters of fact or opinion or other content, without first obtaining specific, independent
professional advice in respect of the matters set out in this publication
AP95020: Non-chemical dmiifostatkm of pears and apples
PRE-STORAGE TREATMENT FOR NON-CHEMICAL
DISINFESTATION OF PEARS AND APPLES
1 Media Summary 5
2 Technical Summary 6
3 Introduction 8
4 Project Directions 10
4.1 Phase 1 1995/96 10
4.2 Phase 2 1996/97, 1997/98 10
4.3 Phase 3 1998/99 11
5 General Materials and Methods 12
5.1 Rearing of insect colonies 12
5.1.1 LBAM 12
5.1.2 Codling moth 12
Artificial Diet 12
Apple Thinnings 12
5.1.3 Mediterranean fruit fly 13
5.2 Fruit quality measurements 13
5.2.7 Colour 13
5.2.2 Firmness 13
5.2.3 TSS 13
5.3 Taste testing methods 13
5.3.1 Triangle test for difference 13
5.3.2 Hedonic scale 14
5.3.3 Structured Scale 14
6 Non-chemical disinfestation - combining controlled atmosphere,
heat and cold storage. 15
6.1 Evaluation of a high temperature/low oxygen pulse as a method of
improving cold storage disinfestation in pome fruit 15
6.2 Additive effects of the combination of three postharvest treatments on
insect mortality and pome fruit quality 16
6.3 Evaluation of a warm temperature CA treatment for disinfestation of
codling moth, LB AM, Queensland and Mediterranean fruit fly in pome
fruit. 17
AP95020: Non-chemical disinj'e station of pears and apples
Codling moth and LB AM 17
Queensland fruit fly 18
6.3.1 Introduction 18
6.3.2 Materials and Methods 18
Treatment / Infestation of Fruit 18
Controlled atmosphere system 18
Disinfestation of Pink Lady apples from Queensland fruit fly 18
The effect of CA pre-treatment and temperature of treatment on
Queensland fruit fly 18
Disinfestation of Qfly in Packham's Triumph pears, Fuji and Gala
apples 19
Determination of insect survival 19
6.3.3 Results 19
Disinfestation of Pink Lady apples from Qfly 19
The effect of CA pre-treatment and temperature of treatment on
Queensland fruit fly 21
Disinfestation of Qfly in Packham's Triumph pears, Fuji and Gala
apples 22
6.3.4 Discussion 22
Mediterranean fruit fly 23
6.4 The effect of rearing temperature, age and weight on the resistance of
lightbrown apple moth pupae to a warm temperature CA treatment 24
6.5 Influence of a one week CA pulse prior to export on disinfestation of
codling moth. 25
6.5.1 Introduction 25
6.5.2 Materials and Methods 25
Insect Mortality 25
Fruit Quality 25
6.5.3 Results 25
6.5.4 Discussion 26
7 Non-chemical disinfestation using cold storage 27
7.1 The effect of short periods of sub-zero temperatures on fruit quality and
disinfestation 27
7.1.1 Introduction 27
7.1.2 Materials and Methods 27
Fruit Quality 27
Insect Mortality 28
7.1.3 Results 28
Fruit Quality 28
Insect Mortality 36
7.1.4 Discussion 36
7.2 Disinfestation using cold storage at-1°C 38
7.2.7 Introduction 38
7.2.2 Materials and Methods 38
Lightbrown apple moth 38
Codling moth 39
AP95020: Non-chemical disinfestation of pears and apples
Queensland fruit fly 39
Mediterranean fruit fly 42
7.2.3 Results 44
Codling moth and lightbrown apple moth 44
Queensland fruit fly 49
Mediterranean fruit fly 51
7.2.4 Discussion 56
8 Phosphine as an alternative fumigant for the disinfestation of
pome fruit 57
8.1 Codling moth and lightbrown apple moth in Packham's Triumph pears 57
8.1.1 Introduction 57
8.1.2 Materials and Methods 57
Fruit quality 57
Insect mortality 58
8.1.3 Results 58
Fruit Quality 58
58
Insect Mortality
58
8.1.4 Discussion
9 Technology transfer 60
9.1 Publications and related articles in industry publications 60
9.2 Presentations and conference papers 60
9.3 Poster presentations 60
10 Recommendations 61
11 References 62
12 Appendices 64
12.1 Appendix I: Chervin et al. (1996). Postharvest Biology and Technology 7,
289-299.
12.2 Appendix II: Chervin et al. (1996). Hortscience 31(3), 471.
12.3 Appendix HI: Chervin et al. (1997). Postharvest Biology and Technology
10, 239-245.
12.4 Appendix IV: Chervin et al. (1998) Acta Horticulturae 464, 273-278.
12.5 Appendix V: Chervin et al. (1999). Australian Journal of Experimental
Agriculture 39, 335-344.
12.6 Appendix VI: Tabatabai et al. (1999). Accepted for publication in
Australian Journal of Entomology.
AP95020: Non-chemical disinfestation of pears and apples
12.7 Appendix VII: Datalogger Summaries for Queensland fruit fly -
Adherence to target temperature (-1°C)
12.8 Appendix nX:
Specifications of cold treatment facilities and temperature recording
devices used for Mediterranean fruit fly trials at the South Perth Fresh
Fruit Disinfestation Laboratory
12.8.1 Specifications of Cold Treatment Chambers
12.8.2 Description of Cold Treatment Chambers
Cold treatment chambers #1 and #2
Cold Chambers #3, #4, #5.
12.8.3 Specifications of temperature recording devices.
12.8.4 Method of calibration of temperature probes before and after each trial.
12.8.5 Method of monitoring temperature
Air temperature probes:
Fruit temperature probes for most tolerant stage trials
.AP95()20: Non-chemical disinjestation of pears and apples
1 Media Summary
Queensland and Mediterranean fruit fly (Qfly and Medfly), lightbrown apple moth
(LBAM) and codling moth infest apples and pears in Australia, and their detection in
shipments denies access to important overseas markets. Qfly occurs in mainland Australia
but not Tasmania, Medfly is restricted to Western Australia, codling moth occurs in all States
except WA and LBAM is ubiquitous
Effective disinfestation treatments are therefore required to ensure that industry can
maintain and expand exports of pome fruit. The currently accepted treatments are either
methyl bromide or dimethoate, but the long term future of these compounds is insecure
because of environmental and other concerns. The only non-chemical method available is
cold storage at 1 °C, which is only approved for fruit fly control
This project evaluated physical treatments against Qfly and Medfly, LBAM and
codling moth, which is consistent with international moves to focus on non-chemical methods
for disinfestation.
Cold treatment was of particular interest partly because it is already approved for fruit
flies and also because it can easily be integrated into other post harvest practices. It was
tested either individually or in combination with a warm controlled atmosphere treatment (3
days at 28°C and 0-2% oxygen).
Combination of 3 days of 28°C and 2% oxygen followed by 9 weeks at 0.5°C
achieved probit 9 for LBAM. Also cold storage at -1°C for 22 days gave 99% mortality of
LBAM while Qfly and Medfly reached 100% mortality within 10 days. Pears and some
cultivars of apple store best at -1°C and therefore cold is the simplest effective disinfestation
treatment, but some apple cultivars are sensitive to temperatures below O^C, and for these the
warm CA/ 0.5°C is more suitable.
Neither cold nor warm CA or combinations of both provided practical solutions for
codling moth. Over 100 days of cold storage are required for 99% kill. This is impractical,
because fruit would not be exported in time to capitalise on off season trade. Preliminary
studies showed that treatment with phosphine at lOOOppm for 48 hours was effective against
CM and LBAM. Although phosphine is approved internationally as a grain treatment it is not
yet accepted for horticultural produce.
The results of the non chemical treatments can be developed for those international
markets, such as USA, which specify fruit flies and LBAM as quarantine pests. There is also
the prospect for their approval as a pre shipment treatment for pome fruit to Japan, from
Western Australia, where CM is not endemic.
For other areas of Australia satisfactory treatments are still required for CM which
clearly is able to withstand protracted periods of adverse conditions which are lethal to other
fruit infesting insects.
AP95020: Non-chesnical disbifesiation of pears and apples
2 Technical Summary
Australian pome fruit may host a number of species of insect pests that are of
quarantine significance to importing countries. In order to maintain and expand both
interstate and international trade it is important to have effective methods of disinfestation.
Currently there are three approved treatments for disinfestation of Australian pome fruit
against fruit flies; fumigation with methyl bromide, spraying with dimethoate and cold
storage at 1°C. There are problems with all of these treatments due to either limited
effectiveness or restrictions upon their use.
During this project several methods of non-chemical disinfestation have been
investigated. Treatments were assessed for their effect on fruit quality as well as their
efficacy against four important insect pests - lightbrown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana
(Walker), codling moth, Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus), Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni
(Froggatt) and Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). Trials were mainly
conducted on Packham's Triumph pears and Pink Lady apples, although Fuji, Royal Gala and
Red Delicious apples were also used in some trials.
Experiments were conducted combining heat, cold and CA (controlled atmosphere)
treatments. There were significant additive effects of some treatment combinations, which
led to shorter treatment durations compared with individual treatments. The most severe
treatment that could be tolerated by all cultivars without damage was 72 hours at 28°C and
2kPa oxygen, followed by cold storage at 0.5°C. This schedule was effective against
lightbrown apple moth (LT99 = 46 ± 1.5 days) and Queensland fruit fly. However, for
codling moth the LT99 value was 103 + 5.3 days which is too long for international trade.
Two low-temperature treatments were tested -
1. A short period of -5°C (1, 2 or 3 days for apples and 2, 4 or 6 days for pears)
followed by cold storage at -1°C, under controlled atmosphere.
2. Cold storage at-1°C in air.
The -5°C treatment resulted in unacceptable damage to the fruit except when the
treatment was for one day only. One day at -5°C however did not significantly reduce the
treatment duration in comparison to storage at -1°C alone (LT99 for 6* instar lightbrown
apple moth was achieved after 31.57 ± 1.19 days for the -5°C treatment and 28.37 ± 0.94 days
for-1°C alone).
Cold storage at -1°C (without CA) was then tested as a disinfestation method for
lightbrown apple moth, codling moth, Qfly and Medfly. The LT99 for the most tolerant life
stages of these pests was achieved after 21.755 + 0.48 days for 6* instar LBAM and 109.62 ±
6.62 days for 5* instar codling moth; l" instar Qfly and Medfly reached 100% mortality in 9
and 10 days respectively.
Phosphine was also investigated as a potential alternative fumigant against lightbrown
apple moth and codling moth. Packham' s Triumph pears were exposed to a 48 hour
fumigation where the initial concentration of phosphine was lOOOppm. Total control of last
instar codling moth and lightbrown apple moth was achieved, and although fruit ripening was
slightly inhibited there was no significant detrimental effect on fruit quality.
In general, CA shortened the duration of heat treatments but either lengthened or did
not effect the duration of cold treatments against lightbrown apple moth and codling moth.
The simplest effective treatment against three pest species was -TC, which is the optimal
temperature for pear storage in air or normal CA. For chill sensitive apple varieties, warm
CA treatment could be considered. Phosphine proved effective against LBAM and codling