Quarantine Treatments for Mortality of Eggs and Larvae of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) Invading Fresh Horticulture Perishable Produces

The need for effective plant and pest quarantines between continents, regions and countries as well as even within states is no longer considered to be a controversial topic. The objective of this task is to achieve and make a significant contribution to the management of pest fruit flies in horticulture products at quarantines for international markets. Fruit flies cause considerably serious damage and losses to fruits and vegetables by means of weight and nutritional sufferings reducing yields and market values in many countries. Pakistan is becoming more active in international trade of agricultural products including fruits and vegetables. One of the key factors in promoting tropical fruit trade is to protect plants from pest damages and improve in infestation service, and accordingly meet dis-invasion requirements set by importing countries. Fruits and vegetables suspected of harboring fruit fly eggs and larvae must be treated to control virtually 100% of any tephritids present. Quarantine security for international markets is very important for horticulture products and industry. Irradiation is unique among quarantine treatments in that it is the only treatment used which does not cause acute mortality; instead, insects are prevented from maturing or are sterilized. Current and alternative quarantine treatments involve chemical fumigation, ionizing radiation, controlled atmosphere, cold treatment, conventional hot air or water heating and dielectric heating. Some other important highlights are a detailed knowledge of the fruit fly species of economic importance, their distribution and host plant range, an accurate assessment of the movement of fresh horticultural produce by air and road travels, and expression of field pest control strategies to producer communities. This mission can assist with technical guidance for an experienced consultant to assess the problem, training of field staff, undertaking surveys to define the geographic limit of pest spreading and introducing field control strategies.