TITLE:
Impact of Oriental Fruit Fly Postharvest Treatments on Avocado
AUTHORS:
Daniel Carrillo, Amy Roda, Clara Sarmiento, Armando Monterroso, Xiqui Wei, Teresa I. Narvaez, Jeff Crawford, William Guyton, Alan Flinn, Don Pybas, Woodard D. Bailey
KEYWORDS:
Bactrocera dorsalis, Persea americana, Postharvest, Quarantine, Fumigation
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.8 No.3,
February
23,
2017
ABSTRACT: The detection in August 2015 of the Oriental Fruit
Fly (Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel,
Diptera: Tephritidae) in the Redland area in Miami-Dade County, Florida
triggered a quarantine that restricted the movement of fruit fly host material
in an approximately 99-square mile (256-square kilometer) area. The quarantine affected
4000 acres of fruit bearing commercial avocado groves. Approved post-harvest
treatments for B. dorsalis and
avocado included in the USDA Treatment Manual were acceptable for immediate
certification and movement of fresh avocados from the quarantine area. However,
it was unknown if Florida avocados would meet quality standards (US combination
grade) after the treatments. Three post-harvest treatments that combine methyl
bromide fumigation and cold storage periods were tested on six avocado varieties
from Florida. The treatments differed in the durations of the fumigation and
cold treatment periods. A seven day transit period at 8.3°C (47°F) was added to
account for the time when the fruit leaves the packing house until it is sold
by retailers. None of the six varieties had met the US combination grade after
the treatments and transit period. Treated fruit exhibited both internal (pulp)
and external (skin) damage. Damage was attributed to the fumigation component
of the treatment, but the six varieties tolerated the cold portion of the
treatment. Damage by fumigation ranged from 26% - 100%. In general, the longer the fumigation period
the worse the effect. The need for alternative post-harvest treatments for
Florida avocados is discussed.