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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #173024
Title: POTENTIAL POSTHARVEST USE OF RADIOGRAPHY TO DETECT INTERNAL PESTS IN DECIDUOUS TREE FRUITS

Author
item Hansen, James D
item Haff, Ronald - Ron
item SCHLAMAN, DONALD - YAKIMA VALL MEMORIAL HOSP
item Yee, Wee

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2005
Publication Date: 7/1/2005
Citation: Hansen, J.D., Haff, R.P., Schlaman, D.W., Yee, W.L. 2005. Potential postharvest use of radiography to detect internal pests in deciduous tree fruits. Journal of Entomological Science. 40(3):255-262.

Interpretive Summary: The incidence of insect infested fruits reaching the packing house may be increasing with the move towards fewer chemical controls in orchards. Furthermore, the use of postharvest fumigation is decreasing due to health and environmental concerns. Labor costs to sort out infested fruits are also becoming a major financial liability. Thus, a quick, reliable, non-destructive method to detected damaged fruits would aid in the marketing and export of fresh fruits. This study demonstrates that radiographic methods can detect the presence of codling moth and cherry fruit larvae in apples and cherries. If this technology can be developed and refined, packing line costs will be reduced.

Technical Abstract: Radiographic techniques were investigated for their potential to detect internal pests in deciduous tree fruits. Two non-destructive methods, X-ray CT imaging and film X-ray, were used to detect larval feeding damage caused by codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in apples. In addition, CT imaging was used to detect larvae of the codling moth and western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae) in cherries. Both techniques showed evidence of codling moth feeding tunnels in apples, as well as in cherries using CT imaging. CT images of cherries infested with fruit fly larvae showed retraction of the fruit pulp from the seed. This study supports the use of radiography to detect internally damaged fruits for sorting on the commercial packing line.