SINGLE-TEMPERATURE FORCED HOT-AIR QUARANTINE TREATMENT TO CONTROL FRUIT-FLIES (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE) IN PAPAYA

A single air temperature, forced hot-air treatment was developed to co ntrol Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedermann), melon fly, Bactruccra cucurbitate (Coquillett), and oriental fruit fly, Bact rocera dorsalis (Hendel), eggs and larvae in Hawaii-grown papaya, Cari ca papaya L., 'Kopoho Solo.' The treatment forced 48.5 +/- 0.5 degrees C hot air with 40-60% RH over the papayas until the fruit center temp eratures reached 47.2 degrees C. The treatment time required to heat t he fruit centers to 47.2 degrees C and provide probit 9 quarantine sec urity was 3.5 +/- 0.25 h. Fruit fly survival occurred in tests using a shorter treatment time of 2.5 +/- 0.25 h although the fruit center te mperatures were 47.2 degrees C. When the fruit center temperatures rea ched 47.2 degrees C, the papayas were immediately hydrocooled until th e fruit center temperatures were less than or equal to 30 degrees C. T he single air temperature forced hot-dr treatment did not damage the f ruit.