Methyl Bromide Fumigation of Five Cultivars of Sweet Cherries as a Quarantine Treatment against Codling Moth

Abstract

<jats:p>A quarantine treatment was developed against codling moth (<jats:italic>Cydia pomonella</jats:italic> L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) for the sweet cherry (<jats:italic>Prunus avium</jats:italic> L.) cultivars ('Garnet,' `Brooks,' `Tulare,' `Lapins,' and `Sweetheart') exported to Japan. Specific procedures were required to demonstrate treatment efficacy. Dose-mortality responses were measured for each cultivar at regularly incremented concentrations of methyl bromide for 2 hours at 43 °F (6 °C) compared to the dose-mortality curve of an approved cultivar under the same conditions. Based on the overlap of confidence limits, there were no significant differences between new and approved cultivars in group comparisons. In a confirmation test of efficacy, fumigation with methyl bromide at 0.064 oz/ft<jats:sup>3</jats:sup> (64 g·m<jats:sup>-3</jats:sup>) for 2 hours at 43 °F resulted in complete mortality for all codling moth larvae in the treated cultivars. By convention, fumigation at this or the following concentrations [0.048 oz/ft<jats:sup>3</jats:sup> (48 g·m<jats:sup>-3</jats:sup>) for 2 h at 54 to 63 °F (12 to 17 °C); 0.040 oz/ft<jats:sup>3</jats:sup> (40 g·m<jats:sup>-3</jats:sup>) for 2 h at 63 to 72 °F (17 to 22 °C); 0.032 oz/ft<jats:sup>3</jats:sup> (32 g·m<jats:sup>-3</jats:sup>) for 2 h at 72 °F (22 °C) or above] were considered as an efficacious quarantine treatment against the codling moth in sweet cherries. Except for `Brooks,' fumigation did not significantly influence fruit firmness, soluble solids, or titratable acids. Reduction in fruit and stem quality was more associated with temperature than with methyl bromide concentration. `Tulare,' `Lapins,' and `Sweetheart' could be fumigated with minimal change in fruit quality.</jats:p>

Effect of Cold Treatment on Survival and Development of Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Cherry

“…If a cherry was destroyed by fungi, the larva was extracted (if found) and placed alone on an immature organically grown apple in a separate container, a tapered plastic cup described above. This is routine for enhancing larval survival in laboratory studies and is required by Japan for treatment tests against codling moth (Hansen et al 2000). Missing larvae were assumed dead as is standard procedure when evaluating quarantine treatments against the codling moth ( MofÞtt et al 1992, Hansen et al 2000.…”

“…This is routine for enhancing larval survival in laboratory studies and is required by Japan for treatment tests against codling moth (Hansen et al 2000). Missing larvae were assumed dead as is standard procedure when evaluating quarantine treatments against the codling moth ( MofÞtt et al 1992, Hansen et al 2000. Corrugated cardboard squares were attached to the inner side of the lid tops to provide pupation sites for larvae in apples and cherries.…”

“…Larval feeding, however, is detectable. Observations made in an earlier study on infested cherries (Hansen et al 2000) indicated that codling moth larvae older than second instar form obvious tunnels. Wearing (1979) also separated instars by their characteristic tunneling.…”

“…In caged studies, Hagley et al (1980) found almost all codling moth eggs on foliage, rather than fruits, and reported that codling moths had not been recovered from sour cherry, Prunus cerasus L., for the previous 8 yr. In quarantine studies, codling moths were forced to infest cherries by either releasing adult moths in caged trees with fruit (Anthon et al 1975) or in the laboratory with containers of fruit (Maindonald et al 1992), or by individually placing larvae by hand on each fruit (Hansen et al 2000). However, in none of these studies were the insects allowed to develop to maturity.…”

Hot Water to Control Codling Moth in Sweet Cherries: Efficacy and Quality

“…Quarantine regulations require that, prior to export, sweet cherries must be fumigated with methyl bromide (MeBr). MeBr has long been used as a fumigant to disinfect agricultural commodities, particularly sweet cherries, with good success (Drake et al 1991;Drake et al 1994;Hansen et al 2000). A major disadvantage in the use of MeBr is that the extended duration of exposure and temperature required to eliminate all living states of potential insect pests has led to fruit injury.…”