Postharvest Fumigation of Fresh Citrus with Cylinderized Phosphine to Control Bean Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Bean thrips (BT), Caliothrips fasciatus (Pergande), is a pest of concern to certain countries that import fresh citrus fruit from California, USA. A series laboratory-scale exploratory fumigations with phosphine at 4.9 ± 0.3 °C (mean 2 SD; x¯±2s) were conducted evaluate the postharvest control adult BT. Models duration–mortality response predicted ca. 99% mortality BT populations when headspace concentrations phosphine, [PH3], are maintained levels ≥0.4 g m−3 (250 ppmv (µL L−1)) and ≤1.5 (1000 for 12 h, duration representing lower bound 95% confidence level (CL). Confirmatory fumigations, each lasting then using BT-infested sweet oranges, Citrus sinensis (L.), pulp temperature (T) ≤ 5 corroborate results. Three formulations cylinderized used: 1.6% by volume in nitrogen, VAPORPH3OS®, ECOFUME®, all applied two levels, 1.5 L−1)), as well 0.5 (300 L−1)). Collectively, across formulations, an dose resulted 0 survivors 38,993 (probit 8.60, CL; probit 9, 72% CL) treated BT, while 31,204 8.56, 70% Results discussed context commercial operational features quarantine pre-shipment (QPS) uses treat and, specifically, exported USA, Australia.