Methyl Bromide Quarantine Treatment for Codling Moth on Exported Nectarines, 1987

Abstract

Abstract Small- and large-scale test were used to develop a methyl bromide (MB) quarantine treatment to disinfest 6 early to mid-season nectarine cultivars of codling moth (CM) for export to Japan. Nectarines were infested with 1-day-old CM eggs, the CM life stage least susceptible to MB. Small-scale tests were conducted in 1986 using 28-Iitei fiberglass chambers. At least 8 MB doses were tested for each nectarine cultivar to determine the dose/response of CM eggs to MB fumigation. Fumigations were for 2 h at 21°C with a 50% fruit volume load factor. After treatment and aeration for 30 min, the infested fruit were removed from the fumigation chambers and held at 22-23°C. Egg hatch was determined 7-8 days after treatment. Data were analyzed by the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) PROBIT procedure. Large-scale tests were conducted in 1986-1987 in 3.12-m3 wood chambers that had the interior surfaces sealed with epoxy paint. Large-scale tests were used to establish the efficacy of the MB quarantine treatment that was based on small-scale test results. Procedures were similar to small-scale tests except treated fruit were aerated for 2 h after fumigation and treated eggs were examined for hatch at 2- to 3-day intervals over a period of 15-17 days after oviposition. CM eggs on fruit used in controls were handled similarly to treated fruit except controls were not fumigated with MB.