Ethylene Dibromide Fumigation of Citrus Fruit to Control the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wied.)1

Abstract

Abstract Grapefruit, orange, and lemon fruits were fumigated with ethylene dibromide (EDB) at 12 and 14 g/m3 for 2 hr exposures against eggs, larvae, and pupae of the Mediterranean fruit fly. Grapefruit also was fumigated at 16 g/m3 for 2 and 2.5 hr exposures. EDB sorption was determined in an empty chamber and when the chamber was loaded with fruit. At EDB dosages of 12 and 14 g/m3, a complete kill of eggs, larvae, and pupae was obtained by fumigating artificially infested oranges and lemons. With grapefruit, complete kill of eggs and pupae and high mortality of larvae were obtained at those dosages. When the dosage was increased to 16 g/m3 and exposure prolonged to 2.5 hr a 100% kill of larvae was obtained. All citrus fruits were tolerant to dosages used and no peel injury occurred during subsequent 1 month storage and 2 weeks under shelf-life conditions. The rate of EDB residue desorption from various citrus fruits after fumigation was determined. The amounts of inorganic bromide residue resulting from fumigation were below safety limits.