Irradiation disinfestation of apple maggot (Diptera: Tephritidae) in hypoxic and low-temperature storage

Apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh), is a quarantine pest of apples, Malus domestica Borkhausen, and pears, Pyrus communis L., shipped from much of the United States and Canada. As such, these fruits shipped from infested areas to uninfested areas must undergo a quarantine disinfestation treatment. The objective of this research was to develop irradiation quarantine treatments against apple maggot considering that fruit hosts may be stored under hypoxic or cold conditions when they are irradiated. Hypoxia increased from 30.5 to 35.7 Gy (17%) the estimated dose to achieve 99% prevention of the full pupal stage from irradiated third instars in apples compared with ambient atmospheres. However, 50 Gy completely prevented the full pupa in 22,360 and 15,530 third instars, respectively, irradiated in apples in ambient and hypoxic atmospheres. There was no difference in development to the full pupal stage in apple maggot third instars held at 1 or 24 degrees C when irradiated with 20 Gy. Because the maximum dose measured when 50 Gy was sought was 57 Gy, the latter should be the dose recommended for quarantine disinfestation of host fruits of the apple maggot. Apples and pears tolerate much higher doses.