Disinfestation of Western Australian Granny Smith apples by cold treatment against the egg and larval stages of the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata (Wied.))

Abstract

In a series of tests during 1974 export grade Granny Smith apples artificially infested with eggs, young and old larvae of Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata (Wied.)) were cold stored at 0.5°C ± 0.5°C for 14 days and at 1.5°C ± 0.5°C for 16 days in simulated commercial conditions. No survivors were recorded from tests in which an estimated total of 340,200 eggs and larvae were treated. No injury to the fruit was caused by the treatments. Apples are held in cool stores after harvest at these temperatures as normal commercial practice. The experimental programme demonstrated that such commercial treatments can be applied to meet export requirements to obtain entry to quarantine areas.