Quarantine Treatment for Cherries and
Apples Using Electromagnetic Energies

Problem Addressed

Although after January 1, 2005 Methyl Bromide (MB) is still being used for pest control in the United States under a production exemption that was approved in November 2004 by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the European Union, Japan and most developing countries are placing pressure on the United States to phase out the use of MB. Ten industrialized countries that previously used MB have now phased it out. The need for pest control is an issue that will persist as long as there are quarantined insects for international markets. For example, Japan and South Korea demand quarantine treatments for cherries and apples imported from the United States and recently Taiwan stopped importing apples from the United States after detecting live codling moths. Due to issues like this, there is a need to develop practical pest control strategies to replace MB.

Goal

To develop non-chemical post harvest pest control strategies for agriculture commodities for use in international trade that would replace Methyl Bromide.

Implications

The technology developed through this project may potentially be used as in-pipe continuous radio frequency (RF) treatment for fruits such as apples and cherries grown in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest for international markets. The potential economic value of the process could be between $10-40 million when considering international trade from commodities grown in the United States.

Procedures

Tang has developed a method that combines conventional heating with a short RF heating period with fruits moving and rotating in water flume to control pests inside fruit. This method can effectively heat fruits without causing severe damage to product quality.

Techniques and Technologies Developed

The WSU Heat Block System is now used as a unified method in four USDA Stations and in Israel for studying insect thermal mortality. Scientists from different stations and countries can now compare insect mortality data with their own insects without the concern of shipping live and sometimes quarantined insects across national and international borders.

Publications/Journal Articles From Project

Hansen J.D., S.R. Drake, M.L. Heidt, M.A.Watkins, J. Tang and S. Wang. 2004. “Radio Frequency Treatments For Postharvest Codling Moth Control In Fresh Apples.” HortTechnology 14(4):533-537.

Gozit, Y., S. Wang, J. Tang, S. Lurie. 2004. “Thermal Death Kinetics Of Egg and 3rd Instar Mediterranean Fruit Fly Ceratitis Captitata (Wiedemann)(Diptera:Tephritidae).” J. Econ. Entomology 97(5):1540-1546.

Hansen, J.D., Wang, S., Tang, J. 2004. A Cumulated Lethal Time Model To Valuate Efficacy Of Heat Treatments For Codling Moth Cydia Pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in cherries.” J. Post-Harvest Biology and Technology 33(3): 309-317.

Birla, S.L., S. Wang, J. Tang. 2004. “Improving Heating Uniformity Of Fresh Fruits In Radio Frequency Treatments For Pest Control.” J. Postharvest Biology and Technology 33(2):205-217.

Wang, S., X. Yin, J. Tang, J.D. Hansen. 2004. “Thermal Resistance Of Different Life Stages Of Codling Moth (Lepidopteria: Tortricidae).” J. Stored Product Res. 40(50): 565-574.

Feng, X., J.D. Hansen, B. Biasi, J. Tang, E.J. Mitcham. 2004. “Use Of Hot Water Treatment To Control Codling Moths In Harvested California ‘Bing’ Sweet Cherries.” J. Postharvest Biology and Technology 28(1):41-49.

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