New Zealand flower thrips (NZFT Thrips obscuratus (Crawford)) were exposed to a range of ethyl formate (EF) and pyrethrumbased postharvest treatments on apricots Research showed that EFCO2 or EFN2 were effective treatments against NZFT and caused negligible damage to apricot fruit quality However pyrethrum dipping did not effectively control NZFT and caused significant internal damage to apricot fruit Lethal concentration (LC99) estimates were developed for adult and larval NZFT using a range of EF concentrations (0127 EFCO2) and temperatures (5 15 and 25C) It is estimated that treatments of 1 (307 g/m3) EF at 5 or 25C or a higher concentration of 15 (463 g/m3) at 15C will achieve 99 mortality of NZFT adults and larvae on apricot fruit with 95 confidence

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Mealybugs scale insects thrips and apple leafcurling midge (ALCM) on packed New Zealand apples are a concern for export markets and there is interest in soft technologies to remove insects in postharvest treatments Ethyl formate (EF) is a Generally Recognised As Safe (GRAS) plant volatile compound which was used in trials to reduce pest incidence on apples to acceptable rates for export markets A treatment of 03 EF (CO2) for 1 h controlled 99 of onion thrips and latania scale and 081 EF (CO2) for 1 h controlled obscure mealybug Treatment concentrations and times required to control ALCM (494 EF for 4 h) was beyond the apple quality tolerance level Further research is required to determine apple quality tolerance levels other market access pest EF concentration mortality responses sorption rates of different apple cultivars and effect of temperature on pest mortality and fruit responses

Methyl bromide fumigation became mandatory for capsicums and truss tomatoes exported to Australia after tomato potato psyllid (TPP) was detected in 2006 in New Zealand. Methyl bromide detrimentally affects product quality by increasing rots and the browning of the green stems. An alternative being tested is ethyl formate (EF) and carbon dioxide, commercially available as VAPORMATE®. This study examined the tolerances of different life stages of TPP to EF. Eggs were considerably more tolerant of EF than adults and nymphs. Complete elimination of egg hatch was achieved after a 1-h exposure to 1.19% EF. In contrast, all nymphs and adults were killed after a 1-h exposure to 0.12% and 0.06% EF, respectively. Assessment of egg mortality was altered to better reflect the post-hatch treatment effects on nymph survival. In a subsequent egg age tolerance trial, mean lethal concentrations for 99% mortality ranged from ca 1% EF for young and older eggs to ca 1.5% EF for mid-aged eggs.

Pests on capsicum fruit can cause market access issues resulting in costly methyl bromide fumigation. High pressure washing (HPW) removes insects and other surface contaminants and has been commercialised for capsicums. This paper reports on performance of a commercial HPW system and compares it to an experimental HPW system that the commercial system was based on. The experimental high-pressure washing system operated at 75 or 100 psi (517 or 689 kPa, respectively) resulted in complete removal of aphids on capsicum fruit. The commercial washer at the same pressures removed 98.1-98.9% of aphids resulting in 85-95% clean fruit. HPW treatment increased incidence of soft rot and stem blackening with higher rot blackening at 100 psi. These results indicate the potential of HPW to be included as a mitigation measure in a systems approach to improve market access for capsicum. However, further optimisation in a commercial setting and evidence for efficacy against other pests of capsicum, such as tomato potato psyllid is required.