SINGLE-TEMPERATURE FORCED HOT-AIR QUARANTINE TREATMENT TO CONTROL FRUIT-FLIES (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE) IN PAPAYA

A single air temperature, forced hot-air treatment was developed to control Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedermann), melon fly, Bactruccra cucurbitate (Coquillett), and oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), eggs and larvae in Hawaii-grown papaya, Carica papaya L., 'Kopoho Solo.' The treatment forced 48.5 +/- 0.5 degrees C hot air with 40-60% RH over the papayas until the fruit center temperatures reached 47.2 degrees C. The treatment time required to heat the fruit centers to 47.2 degrees C and provide probit 9 quarantine security was 3.5 +/- 0.25 h. Fruit fly survival occurred in tests using a shorter treatment time of 2.5 +/- 0.25 h although the fruit center temperatures were 47.2 degrees C. When the fruit center temperatures reached 47.2 degrees C, the papayas were immediately hydrocooled until the fruit center temperatures were less than or equal to 30 degrees C. The single air temperature forced hot-dr treatment did not damage the fruit.