Location: Commodity Protection and Quality Research
Project Number: 2034-43000-043-071-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Apr 1, 2024
End Date: Mar 31, 2025
Objective:
The objective of this project is to develop and implement efficient, economical, and environmentally responsible strategies to reduce the impact of Tephritid fruit flies on US horticultural production. Research will focus on a novel postharvest systems approach involving phosphine fumigation followed by cold storage.
Approach:
Utilize a cooperative effort between USDA-ARS, USDA-APHIS, industry, and foreign counterparts. In general the approach involves the simultaneous Identification the phosphine concentration “sweet spot” for key tephritids, the evaluation of the death kinetics of cold treatment, and confirmatory testing of the phosphine - cold combination treatment. Findings will b e presented in written research reports and industry guidelines and/or as requested and provide to industry, USDA-APHIS, USDA-TASC, and foreign counterparts.
