The U.S. and many other countries have regulations preventing importation of horticultural commodities that have not been treated by an approved quarantine method insuring 100% mortality of specified insect pests. Intermodal hypobaric (LP= low pressure) containers may be able to provide this benefit directly and residue-free, replacing the prevailing methods of chemical fumigation and hot water treatment, which tend to be injurious to horticultural commodities, and in the case of insecticides, hazardous to workers and potentially dangerous to consumers. Significant differences in the gas exchange systems of insects and plants might be expected to cause insects to perish at the low 02 tension present at the optimal LP storage pressure for mangoes and many other horticultural commodities. This same 02 concentration causes low 02 injury to the host commodity in controlled atmosphere storage. The proposed research will ascertain how quickly Caribbean fruit fly eggs and larvae are killed at various LP temperatures and pressures and the effect these conditions have on mango storage life and quality after ripening. ANTICIPATED RESULTS & POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS OF RESEARCH The research will indicate whether LP will allow a higher quality, larger, and more mature mango fruit to be imported into the U.S., while protecting American agricultural areas from exotic insect pests by a completely safe, non-chemical method. The impact of the Phase I studies is likely to extend to numerous commodities other than mangoes and eventually could promote international trade between the mainland U.S. and the Caribbean basin, Mexico, Central and South America, Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia, Hawaii and elsewhere.
