Post-harvest paraffinic oil dips to disinfest lychee fruit from lychee erinose mite.

Authors: REVYNTHI, ALEXANDRA - University Of Florida; DUNCAN, RITA - University Of Florida; Kendra, Paul; CARRILLO, DANIEL - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2019
Publication Date: 6/8/2020
Citation: Revynthi, A. M., R. E. Duncan, C. Mannion, P. E. Kendra, and D. Carrillo. 2020. Post-harvest paraffinic oil dips to disinfest lychee fruit from lychee erinose mite. Florida Entomol. 103(2): 299-301.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1653/024.103.0224

Interpretive Summary: The lychee erinose mite (Aceria litchii), is an important pest of lychee (Litchi chinensis) in Southeast Asia, Australia, and Hawaii. Its recent interception near Ft. Myers, Lee County, Florida resulted in a quarantine whereby no lychee material, including fruit, can be transferred outside the county. Therefore, there is an urgent need for post-harvest treatments that can disinfest the fruit from the pest. An ARS scientist (Miami, FL), in collaboration with the University of Florida (Homestead, FL) initiated research to determine the efficacy of post-harvest dip treatments for disinfesting lychee fruit of erinose mites. Results indicated that 60 second dips, with agitation, in paraffinic oil solution (3-5%) resulted in complete removal of mites from lychee fruit. In addition, this treatment had no adverse effect on the fruit quality of two economically important cultivars in Florida, ‘Mauritius’ and ‘Brewster’. Identification of an effective, non-toxic postharvest treatment for disinfesting fruit of erinose mites might allow growers in Lee County to export lychee outside the quarantine zone.

Technical Abstract: The lychee erinose mite, Aceria litchii (Keifer) (Acari: Eriophyidae), is an important pest of lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn., Sapindaceae). Its recent interception in Lee County, Florida resulted in a quarantine whereby no lychee material, including fruit, can be transferred outside the county. Therefore, there is an urgent need for post-harvest treatments that can disinfest the fruit from the pest. Results of this study indicate that postharvest dips in paraffinic oil solutions, 3-5%, for 60 seconds can achieve complete disinfestation of lychee fruit from A. litchii motile stages as well as other arthropods. In both ‘Mauritius’ and ‘Brewster’ cultivars the treatments had a beneficial effect on fruit quality for the first four days after treatment. Post-harvest dips in paraffinic oil showed quarantine control of A. litchii without reduction in fruit quality. Hence, this treatment might allow growers in Lee County to transport lychee fruit outside the quarantine zone.