Post-harvest disinfestation of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) on mango using hot-water treatments
Development of a protocol for post-harvest disinfestation of Bactrocera dorsalis on mango using hot-water treatments
Abstract
Mango is one of the most important fruits in Africa that provides household nutrition and economic development opportunities for millions of growers. To facilitate access to export markets, post-harvest management measures (such as hot-water treatment) on mango are required to ensure quarantine security: Fruit fly infestation (especially that caused by the exotic Bactrocera dorsalis) hampers mango production. In addition to its direct damage to fruits, the high quarantine status of the pest restricts export of mango and limits access to lucrative markets, thus causing a negative impact on export earnings.
This article describes the development of a protocol for post-harvest disinfestation of Bactrocera dorsalis on mango using hot-water treatments. First, the researchers established the development of immature life stages of Bactrocera dorsalis in ‘Apple’ mango. Using this information, they subjected infested mangoes harbouring the different immature life stages to a hot-water treatment for four different treatment periods, after which they determined the death rate of the eggs and larvae. Results show that the shorter treatment duration is an effective post-harvest disinfestation treatment against Bactrocera dorsalis. The investigators suggest that the required quarantine security level is achieved for mango of the ‘Apple’ variety at this water temperature; consequently, National Plant Protection Organisations and trading partners should open market access previously blocked due to the presence of B. dorsalis.
This is an output of the ‘African Fruit Fly Programme’. This work was partly funded by the UK Department for International Development, a core donor of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology.
Citation
Ndlela S., Ekesi S., Ndegwa P.N., Ong’amo G.O. and Mohamed S. A. (2017) Post-harvest disinfestation of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) on mango using hot-water treatments. Journal of Applied Entomology 00, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.12404.