2005 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? Quarantine barriers, based on the potential introduction of arthropod pests, impede the commerce of domestic temperate tree fruits. Development and implementation of phytosanitation and quarantine procedures expand the international markets of these products. Deciduous temperate tree fruits are major export crops for the United States. Potential exports increase local economies and improve the national balance of payments. Quarantine restrictions impede these objectives. The research to be undertaken falls under National Program 304 Crop & Commodity Pest Biology, Control, & Quarantine and contributes to NP308 Methyl Bromide Alternatives and addresses goals of Component IV - Postharvest, Pest Exclusion, and Quarantine Treatment and Component II: Postharvest Commodity Treatment, respectively. Specifically, these are to: expand and refine current methyl bromide fumigation treatments; develop alternative technologies to eliminate codling moths and other arthropod pests from deciduous tree fruits; develop innovative approaches to quarantine security; and develop treatments acceptable to organic producers and small farmers. 2.List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Milestone. Year 1. Demonstrate efficacy test of thermal treatments against fruit fly in cherry. Milestone. Year 1. Demonstrate commercial radio frequency treatments in a walnut packing house, for disinfesting of codling moth. Milestone. Years 1-2. Demonstrate that commercial CATTS (controlled atmosphere and temperature treatments system) can effectively control the most tolerant stages of codling moth in apples. Milestone. Year 1. Demonstrate that commercial CATTS (controlled atmosphere and temperature treatments system) can effectively control the most tolerant stages of oriental fruit moth in apples. Milestone. Years 3-5. Demonstrate efficacy of CATTS for disinfesting peaches of peach tree borer. Milestone. Year 3. Demonstrate efficacy of CATTS for disinfesting apples of grape mealy bug. Milestone. Years 3-4. Demonstrate efficacy of CATTS for disinfesting apples of San Jose scale. Milestone. Year 5. Demonstrate efficacy of CATTS for disinfesting pears of mites. Milestone. Years 1-3. Demonstrate the efficacy of controlled atmosphere and cold storage as a quarantine treatment for codling moth in apples. Milestone. Years 1-3. Validate a controlled atmosphere and cold storage treatment as a quarantine treatment for codling moth in apples Milestone. Years 1-4. Demonstrate in a packing house efficacy of surface removal techniques for disinfesting apples and pears of mites. Milestone. Years 1-4. Demonstrate in a packing house efficacy of surface removal techniques for disinfesting apples and pears of grape mealy bug. Milestone. Years 1-2. Demonstrate removal efficacy of oblique banded leaf-roller larvae from cherries by use of silicone-based materials. Milestone. Year 1. Demonstrate removal efficacy of a surface treatment against Oriental fruit moth on apple. Milestone. Year 1. Determine algorithms for radiological detection of insect and disease damage in apple. Milestone. Years 2-5. Demonstrate the use of radiographic detection as a means of reducing the occurrence of codling moth in apples in a packing house operation. Milestone. Year 1. Document daily survival of codling moth larvae in cherry as evidence of poor host status. Milestone. Years 2-3. . Document occurrence and daily survival of codling moth larvae in cherries in a packing house as evidence of poor host status. Milestone. Years 4-5. Validate the hypothesis that cherries are not suitable hosts for codling moth, through intensive sampling in a packing house. 4a.What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? Fruits processed at commercial packing houses may contain internal insect pests that are found while going through the sorting line, which may cause major disruptions of export markets. Researchers at the USDA-ARS Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory, in cooperation with an engineer at USDA-ARS-Albany and a radiological technician at Yakima Memorial Hospital, investigated high resolution radiography for detection of these pests. X-ray radiographs distinctly showed the presence of codling moth larvae in apples and cherry fruit fly larvae in cherries. If this technology can be developed for commercial packing lines, similarly infested fruits could be rejected before export. 4b.List other significant accomplishments, if any. External surface pests, like mites and aphids, reduce the marketability of tree fruits. Scientists and technicians at the USDA-ARS Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory, in cooperation with research personnel at the Oregon State University Hood River Experiment Station, examined methods to remove these pests without damaging the fruits. The use of surfactants, along with modified packing line brushes and high-pressure sprays, were shown to be effective in removing most of these pests. This technology when adapted by commercial facilities will be able to produce cleaner and higher quality fruits than done previously. 5.Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. This is a new project replacing terminating project 5352-43000-009-00D. Please see the report for 5352-43000-009-00D for previous accomplishments. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Details of research results on post harvest treatments for codling moth in apples and cherries were provided to growers at the Annual Post harvest Research Review of the Washington State Tree Fruit Research Commission. The CATTS system for disinfesting exported fruit (using high carbon dioxide, low oxygen, and elevated temperatures) is now being developed for use in Parlier, California, as well as several other countries. It is in use by an organic grower/packer in Washington. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Bai, J., E. A. Mielke, P. M. Chen, R. A. Spots, J. D. Hansen, and L. G. Neven. Effect of a high-pressure hot-water washing system on fruit quality, insects, and disease in apples and pears. Part II. Effect on fruit quality of d’ Anjou pears. Annual Meeting of the Washington State Horticultural Society. Yakima, Washington. December 6-8, 2004. (poster) Hansen, J. D., M. L. Heidt, L. G. Neven, E. A. Mielke, J. Bai, P. M. Chen, R. A. Spots. Effect of a high-pressure hot-water washing system on fruit quality, insects, and disease in apples and pears. Part IV. Use of silicone-based materials and mechanical methods to eliminate surface pests. Annual Meeting of the Washington State Horticultural Society. Yakima, Washington. December 6-8, 2004. (poster) Hansen, J.D. Progress Report: Use of silicone-based materials to eliminate surface pests. Annual Meeting of the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission Apple Postharvest Review. Yakima, Washington. July 22, 2004. Hansen, J. D. Validation of CA cold storage to control codling moth in apples. Annual Meeting of the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission Apple Postharvest Review. Yakima, Washington. July 23, 2004. Hansen, J. D. Use of surfactants to remove surface pests. Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission Cherry Review. Wenatchee, Washington. November 12, 2004. Hansen, J. D., S. R. Drake, M. L. Heidt, and M.A. Watkins. Potential of radio frequency to control codling moth in sweet cherries. Annual Meeting of the Washington State Horticultural Society. Yakima, Washington. December 6-8, 2004. (poster) Hansen, J. D. The systems approach for postharvest phytosanitation works for organic tree fruits. ARS Organic Research Workshop. Austin, Texas. January 11-13, 2005. (poster) Hansen, J. D., S. R. Drake, M. L. Heidt, and M. A. Watkins. Radio frequency to control postharvest pests of organic tree fruits. ARS Organic Research Workshop. Austin, Texas. January 11-13, 2005. (poster) Hansen, J. D. Bin sterilization to prevent reintroduction of codling moth. Annual Meeting of the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission Apple Review. Yakima, Washington. January 28, 2005. J. P. Siegel, L. A. Lacey, P. Noble, J. Bettiga, B. Higbee, R. Fritts, Jr. Control of navel orangeworm in fallen pistachios using large scale application of the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae. Annual Meeting Society for Invertebrate Pathology, Anchorage, Alaska Aug. 7-11, 2005. Mielke, E. A., J. Bai, P. M. Chen, M. Serdani, R. A. Spots, J. D. Hansen, and L. G. Neven. Effect of a high-pressure hot-water washing system on fruit quality, insects, and disease in apples and pears. Part I. System description. Annual Meeting of the Washington State Horticultural Society. Yakima, Washington. December 6-8, 2004. (poster) Neven, M. L., Hansen, J. D., R. A. Spots, M. Serdani, E. A. Mielke, J. Bai, and P. M. Chen,. Effect of a high-pressure hot-water washing system on fruit quality, insects, and disease in apples and pears. Part V. Use of silicone-based materials and mechanical methods to eliminate surface arthropod eggs. Annual Meeting of the Washington State Horticultural Society. Yakima, Washington. December 6-8, 2004. (poster) Neven, L. G., Harold Ostenson, Linda Rehfield. Confirmatory tests of an organic quarantine treatment against codling moth in apples. Talk. Washington Commission on Pesticide Registration Fall Review. Yakima, WA. 2005. Neven, L. G. Update on CATTS quarantine treatments for pome and stone fruits. Poster. Entomological Society of America Meeting Annual. Salt Lake City, UT. 2004. Neven, L. G. Update on CATTS quarantine treatments for pome and stone fruits. Poster. Entomological Society of America Pacific Branch Meeting Annual. Alisomar, CA. 2005. Neven, L. G. Post harvest management using the CATTS system. G.S. Long annual Organic Workshop. Talk. Sunnyside, WA. 2005. Neven, L. G., James D. Hansen, Robert A. Spotts, Eugene A. Mielke, Jinhe Bai, Paul M. Chen, Peter Sanderson. Effect of a high-pressure hot water washing system on fruit quality, insects, and disease in apples and pears. Talk. Washington State Horticultural Association Annual Convention. Yakima, WA. 2004. Neven, L. G., James D. Hansen, Robert A. Spotts, Maryna Serdani, Eugene A. Mielke, Jinhe Bai, Paul M. Chen. Effect of a high-pressure hot water washing system on fruit quality, insects, and disease in apples and pears. Part V: Use of silicone-based materials and mechanical methods to eliminate surface arthropod eggs. Poster. Washington State Horticultural Association Annual Convention. Yakima, WA. 2004. Neven, L. G. Organic quarantine treatments for pome and stone fruits using CATTS (Controlled Atmosphere/Temperature Treatment System). Poster. Organic Tree Fruit Workshop. Chelan, WA. 2005. Neven, L. G. and Harold Ostenson. Confirmatory tests of an organic quarantine treatment against codling moth in apples. Talk. 2005 WTFRC Annual Postharvest Review. Wenatchee, WA. 2005. Neven, L. G., Larry Pusey. Organic fumigant for control of decay and surface arthropods. Talk. 2005 WTFRC Annual Postharvest Review. Wenatchee, WA. 2005. Spots, R. A., M. Serdani, E. A. Mielke, J. Bai, J., P.M. Chen, , J.D. Hansen, L. G. Neven and P Sanderson. Effect of a high-pressure hot-water washing system on fruit quality, insects, and disease in apples and pears. Part III. Effect on postharvest decay of d’Anjou pear fruit. Annual Meeting of the Washington State Horticultural Society. Yakima, Washington. December 6-8, 2004. (poster) Review Publications Hansen, J.D., Lewis, L.R., Drake, S.R. 2004. Trap catches of codling moth in commercial Washington sweet cherry orchards. Journal Tree Fruit Production. 3(2):33-43 Hansen, J.D., Drake, S.R., Heidt, M.L. 2004. Cherry in rearing diet affects development in codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Journal of American Pomological Society. 58: 142-146. Hansen, J.D., Drake, S.R., Heidt, M.L., Watkins, M.A., Tang, J., Wang, S. 2004. Radio frequency treatments for postharvest codling moth control in fresh apples. Hort Technology. 14:533-537. Neven, L.G. 2005. Combined heat and controlled atmosphere quarantine treatments for control of codling moth in sweet cherries. Journal of Economic Entomology. 98(3):709-715. Wang, S., Yin, X., Tang, J., Hansen, J.D. 2004. Thermal resistance of different life stages of codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Journal of Stored Products Research. 40:565-574.