Calculation of Ethylene-Forming Enzyme Activity in Papayas Treated for Control of Oriental Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

A numerical simulation of the effect of temperature stress on the amount of ethylene-forming enzyme in papaya is described. In response to arbitrary heating conditions, the model provides the temperature, the enzyme activity, and the survival value of the oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsa Its Hendel, as a function of depth in the fruit and of the duration of treatment. Results of our simulation suggest that a slight reduction in fruit temperature before and after the double hot-water immersion treatment may significantly affect fruit tolerance to fruit fly disinfestation treatments.