Effects of insect quarantine treatments on the quality of horticultural crops

Abstract

Purpose of review: In ternational trade of horticultural commodities has b ecome increasingly important, but phytosanitary restrictio ns continue to limit its growth. Phytosanitary or quaran tine treatments are often required to disinfest host commodities of econ omically important arthropod pests before t hey are moved through market channels to areas, i n the same country or in a di fferent country, where the pests do not occur. This article reviews the effects of different commercially developed or potential in sect quarantine treatments and systems on the quality of horticu ltural crops, and evaluates the potential of the commercial app lication of these treatments or systems on the basis of their effect on fruit quality. Quarantine treatments and systems should co ntrol insect pests without negatively affecting the quality of the crop. Recent findings: T he increase in the demand and, thus, in the export of fresh horticu ltural crops, and the increased restrictions on the use of chemical fumigants as quarantine treatments, have increased research activity geared towards developing different phy sical quarantine treatments and systems. As a result, several quarantine treatments and systems have been developed using l ow and high temperatures, modified and controlled atmospheres, irradiation, radiofrequency, and combinations of some of these treatm ents. Direction for future research: Concerns about the safety of food supply, along with concerns about the impact of agricultural chem icals on the environment, are increasing th e interest for the development of non-c hemical quarantine treatments, especially t o meet export requirements. The challenge for future research is to develop non-chemical quarantine treatments and systems t hat do not harm the consumer or the environ ment, which are relatively low cost, and which can be applied in either permanent i nstallations (such as rooms) or aboard sea transport ships. Quarantine can be made with individual treatments, but most probabl y would have to be developed as combined treatments in order to function effectively. Keyw ords: quarantine; fruits; vegetables; postharvest; irradiation; controlled atmosphere; heat; low temperature