Accomplishments 2004 (Final Year) “Non-Chemical Pest Control in Fruits and Nuts Using Electromagnetic Energy” Guy Hallman USDA-ARS, Weslaco, TX

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Summary up to 2004 Original Weslaco PI, K. C. Shellie, transfers out of scope of research as project is starting in early 2001 and turns it over to Hallman. Scope of Weslaco part was to test RF at 27 MHz as a phytosanitary treatment for medium-large fruit (apples and grapefruits) against Mexican fruit fly and apple maggot. Primary role with grapefruit; subordinate role (to ARS-Yakima) with apples. 3

2001: Did preliminary research while awaiting RF machine arrival and installation. Dielectric measurements for oranges, grapefruits, and Mexfly larvae via fruit and dead insects sent to WSU. 4

2002: Installed RF machine and got working. Developed first version of fruit mover to simulate packing line because realized that fruit would need to be in motion to reduce wide variability in temperatures. 5

Early version of fruit mover, Feb

Studied grapefruit tolerance and Mexican fruit fly larval kill in RF machine. Initiated heating block mortality studies with Mexican fruit fly 3 rd instars. 7

2003: Continued trials to kill Mexfly in grapefruit. Finished heating block studies with Mexfly. 8

Conclusions for grapefruit and Mexfly: RF phytosanitary treatment may work However, temperature variation is large even when fruit cycled In order to get lowest lethal temperature to all of fruit, considerable damage will occur This is under experimental conditions; commercial conditions will be more difficult 9

2004: Dedicated to apple maggot 10

<1 º C Minutes Heating Block Study with Apple Maggot Apple maggot easiest to kill of all insects studied 11

However, temperature variation within apples large, as in grapefruits Sample temp. (ºC) ranges for 20 apples (4-6 minutes): 46.7 – – – – –

It seems that a consistent interior apple temperature of 48ºC is required to provide quarantine security against apple maggot in apple in the short times (4-6 minutes) used. 13

Conclude that if other apple pests could be controlled (e.g., codling moth) apple maggot would be controlled 14

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