Cold Temperature Treatment for Mangosteens Infested with the Oriental Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

The occurrence of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), in Thailand limits entry of mangosteens to some foreign markets because of plant quarantine regulations. Mangosteens infested with 5-d-old larvae of B. dorsalis were held at 5, 6, and 7°C for varying periods. At these temperatures, probit 9 (99.9968%) moltality was estimated to occur at 19.4, 24.9, and 24.9 d, respectively. A confirmatory test of 34,490 B. dorsalis larvae was conducted with no survivors after 13 d at 6°C. Criteria for shorter exposure times to cold treatment are discussed. Mangosteens could maintain their market quality up to 16 d after cold storage at 6°C for 12 d.