Jn. Ikediala et al., Quarantine treatment of cherries using 915 MHz microwaves: temperature mapping, codling moth mortality and fruit quality, POSTH BIOL, 16(2), 1999, pp. 127-137
Sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) were treated by 915 MHz microwaves in a pi
lot-scale multimode microwave system with an auxiliary hot air heater to de
termine heating characteristics and the effect of treatments on insect mort
ality and fruit quality. Quality parameters of the microwave-treated 'Bing'
cherries were compared with control fruit and those subjected to methyl br
omide fumigation. When heating cherries to average pit temperatures of 45,
50 and 55 degrees C, the cherry pits heated faster than the surface, and la
rger cherries heated more quickly than smaller ones. Cherry temperature inc
reased linearly with time with heating rates dependent on the microwave pow
er, sample weight, cherry size and radial location inside the cherry. With
a 2 min holding and 5 min hydrocooling protocol after microwave treatments,
adjusted percentage 3rd instar codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.) mortality
ranged from 5 to 62% and 39 to 98% without and with 1-2 days cold storage,
respectively. A higher mortality rate was obtained for insects in 'Bing' t
han 'Rainier' fruit. Firmness, percentage soluble solids content, titratabl
e acidity, fruit weight, and objective fruit colour of microwave-treated 'B
ing' fruit were comparable with these properties of control fruit and to th
ose of cherries fumigated with methyl bromide. Stem greenness colour was re
duced after the microwave and dry hot air combined treatments. Microwave en
ergy may provide an alternative non-chemical quarantine treatment against c
odling moth in export cherries, but further study is needed to optimize the
treatment protocol for insect control and fruit quality. (C) 1999 Elsevier
Science B.V. All rights reserved.