Efficacy of phosphine fumigation of apples for codling moth (<i>Cydia pomonella</i>) disinfestation

Abstract

Codling moth although rare on New Zealand export pipfruit is a quarantine actionable pest that limits access to countries where it is not present and requires specific control measures during production Fumigation with phosphine gas is a disinfestation technology that has recently been extended to fresh produce Apples infested with codling moth fifth instar larvae and eggs were fumigated for two durations at concentrations from 500 to 3500 ppm phosphine at two temperatures Larval mortality assessed 3 days post fumigation at 05C increased with increasing dose with little difference between 48 and 72h treatments In contrast mortality after fumigation of larvae at 12C did not increase with dose and resulted in overall higher mortality than 05C Codling moth eggs were more susceptible to fumigation at 05C than at 12C; fumigation at 12C had minimal effect at all doses The implications for improved market access using phosphine fumigation are discussed