Source: WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
NON-CHEMICAL PEST CONTROL IN FRUITS AND NUTS USING ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0186618
Grant No.
00-52103-9656
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
2000-04957
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 15, 2000
Project End Date
Sep 14, 2005
Grant Year
2000
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
240 FRENCH ADMINISTRATION BLDG
PULLMAN,WA 99164-0001
Performing Department
BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
Non Technical Summary
The multi-billion dollar US tree fruit and nut industries face major challenges in meeting more stringent restrictions, addressing issues of health, the environment, and international competitiveness. The goal of this multi-state, multi-disciplinary project is to use electromagnetic energy for practical, non-chemical, environmentally friendly disinfestation of fresh produce.
Animal Health Component
60%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
30%
Applied
60%
Developmental
10%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
5030999202015%
5030999113010%
5030999102010%
5031199202015%
5031199113010%
5031199102010%
5031219202010%
5031219113010%
5031219102010%
Knowledge Area
503 - Quality Maintenance in Storing and Marketing Food Products;

Subject Of Investigation
0999 - Citrus, general/other; 1199 - Deciduous and small fruits, general/other; 1219 - Edible tree nuts, general/other;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering; 1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1020 - Physiology;
Goals / Objectives
The goal of this multi-state (Washington, California, and Texas), multi-institutional (Washington State University, USDA ARS, and University of California, Davis), multi-disciplinary (engineering, entomology, and fruit physiology) consortium is to develop practical and environmentally friendly technologies for the fruit and nut industries to meet phytosanitary requirements for domestic and international commerce. The new technology developed in the proposed project will be used as an alternative to chemical fumigation, especially MeBr (scheduled for phase out under the Clean Air Act) and phosphine fumigation (scheduled for review under the Food Quality Protection Act). Considerable effort will be focused on education and training in this technology to assist in its adoption and implementation to help US agriculture to sustain domestic and international competitiveness.
Project Methods
An important key to developing successful thermal treatments is balancing the killing of all insects with minimized thermal impact on product quality. Developing effective thermal treatment protocols, therefore, depends upon: 1) knowledge of the thermal resistance of the targeted insects; 2) engineering of thermal energy delivery methods; 3) understanding of the thermal effects on product quality, and 4) suitability of applying pilot-scale results to large-scale industry treatments. Therefore over a four-year period we will: 1. Delineate the kinetics of thermal mortality for codling moth (Cydia pomonella (L.)), spider mites (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus.), Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens (Loew)), navel orangeworm, (Amyelois transitella (Walker)), Indianmeal moth (Plodia interpunctella (Hubner)), and apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomoneela (Walsh)) using a unique heating block system designed at WSU to establish treatment parameters for pest control. 2. Investigate the heating of commodities with electromagnetic energy to design effective energy-delivery methods. 3. Delineate the thermal response of cherries, apples, walnuts, almonds, pears, grapefruits, and oranges to various temperature exposures to determine the thermal tolerance range for each representative commodity. 4. Develop treatment protocols to control insect pests and minimize detrimental thermal effects on the products using a pilot-scale radio frequency system and computer simulation. 5. Conduct preliminary studies in packing houses to examine efficacy and practicality of treatment protocols under commercial conditions. 6. Promote technologies generated by this research through demonstration projects, educational workshops, training sessions, multi-media presentations, and presentations at industry conferences. Develop a website to provide current information.

Progress 09/15/00 to 09/14/05

Outputs
With close cooperation among multi-state (Washington, California, and Texas), multi-institutional (Washington State University, USDA ARS, and University of Californian, Davis), multi-disciplinary (engineering, entomology, and fruit physiology)gorups, this consortium project has surpassed the original research objectives. Studies have been conducted on thermal-death kinetics of codling moth, Mexican fruit fly, navel orangeworm, Indianmeal moth, apple maggot and red flour beetle using the heating block system. The 0.5 order reaction model was found to be the most suitable to describe the thermal death kinetics for all targeted insects. The morality data were further confirmed by the efficacy tests in apples, cherries and walnuts and applied to develop the treatment protocol using radio frequency (RF) energy. Based on the thermal responses of cherries, apples, walnuts, almonds, grapefruits and oranges to various temperature exposures in thermal treatments, the thermal tolerance range for each representative commodity was determined. According to dielectric properties of insects and commodities and direct measurement of their temperatures in electromagnetic field, a differential heating of insects in dried nuts was observed in RF systems but not at microwave range. A fruit mover was designed and developed to improve the heating uniformity of fresh fruit and nuts products in RF systems. Combining the fundamental information on insect mortality and thermal response of the commodities, some pilot-scale treatment protocols were developed for apples, cherries, oranges and walnuts using RF energy. With practical consideration in design of large scale RF treatments for postharvest pest control in inshell walnuts, an industrial implementation is ready to be conducted. The new technology generated by this research project will provide an effective quarantine security process against insect pest in walnuts as an alternative to chemical fumigation.

Impacts
This project has had a significant impact since it addresses critical and emerging pest management challenges which affects environmental quality and natural resource management. This research established a sound theoretical foundation for thermal treatment of insects and benefited other researchers working on the development and implementation of alternative thermal treatments for postharvest insect control. The research also helped the US tree fruit and nut industries to implement effective and modern treatment technologies to maintain sustained international and domestic competitiveness.

Publications

  • Birla S.L., Wang S., and J. Tang, 2005. Radio frequency assisted hot water treatment of oranges to control Mediterranean fruit fly. IFT Annual Meeting & IFT Food Expo, New Orleans, Louisiana, July 15-20, 2005. In Proceedings and Conference Communications
  • Birla S.L., Wang S., and Tang J. 2004. Modeling radio frequency assisted hot water heating of spherical fruit. International conference on 'Emerging Technologies in Agricultural and Food Engineering', IIT Kharagpur, India, Dec. 14-17, 2004. Birla S.L., Wang S., Tang J., and Hallman G. 2004. Improving heating uniformity of fresh fruits in radio frequency treatments for pest control. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 33(2): 205-217.
  • Birla S.L., Wang S., Tang J., Fellman J., Mattinson D., and Lurie S. 2005. Quality of oranges as influenced by potential radio frequency heat treatments against Mediterranean fruit flies. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 38(1): 66-79.
  • Feng, X., J.D. Hansen, B. Biasi, J. Tang, and E.J. Mitcham. 2004. Use of hot water treatment to control codling moths in harvested California 'Bing' sweet cherries. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 31: 41-49.
  • Hallman G., Wang S., and Tang J. 2005. Reaction orders of thermal mortality of third-instar Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. (accepted.)
  • Tang J., Ikediala J.N., Wang S., Hansen J. and Cavalieri R. 2000, Novel thermal quarantine methods. BARD workshop on postharvest heat treatment held in Maagan, Israel, March 21-23, 2000.
  • Tang J., Ikediala J.N., Wang S., Hansen J. and Cavalieri R. 2000. High-temperature-short-time thermal quarantine methods. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 21: 129-145.
  • Hansen J., Wang S., and Tang J. 2004. A cumulated lethal time model to evaluate efficacy of heat treatments for codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in cherries. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 33(3): 309-317.
  • Tang J. and Wang S. 2003. Dielectric properties related to radio frequency and microwave heating. Conference on Food Engineering, 2003 AIChE Annual Meeting, November 16-21, San Francisco Hilton & Towers, San Francisco, CA, USA
  • Hansen J., Tang J., Ikediala J.N., and Wang S. 2000. Development of radio frequency treatments for postharvest disinfestation of agricultural commodities. 24th Annual Meeting of NAPPO (North American Plant Protection Organization) held in San Diego, CA, Oct. 16-20, 2000.
  • Hansen J.D., Drake S.R., Heidt M.L., Watkins M.A., Tang J. and Wang S. 2005. Radio frequency-hot water for postharvest control of codling moth in 'Bing' sweet cherries. HortTechnology, 15(3): 613-616.
  • Hansen J.D., Drake S.R., Heidt M.L., Watkins M.A., Tang J. and Wang S. 2004. Radio frequency treatments for postharvest codling moth control in fresh apples. HortTechnology, 14(4): 533-537.
  • Hansen J.D., Mitcham E.J., Drake S.R., Tang J., Wang S., Bower J., and Biasi B. 2002. Heat as a quarantine treatment against codling moth in cherry. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, 2002.
  • Hansen J.D., Mitcham E.J., Tang J. and Wang S. 2003. Using radio frequency treatments to disinfest arthropod pests from stored products. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meetings, Denver, Colorado, USA, November 2-6, 2003.
  • Hansen J.D., Tang J. and Wang S., 2002. Lethal effects of heat duration on codling moth larvae. Annual meeting of the Washington State Horticultural Association, December 2-4, 2002, at the Yakima Convention Center, WA.
  • Hansen J.D., Tang J., Ikediala J.N., and Wang S. 2000. Development of radio frequency treatments for postharvest disinfestation of agricultural commodities. Annual Meeting of the Washington State Horticultural Association, Kennewick, WA, December 4, 2000.
  • Hansen J.D., Tang J., Ikediala J.N., and Wang S.,. Radio frequency: A practical approach to postharvest pest treatments for agricultural commodities. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Montreal, Quebec, December 4, 2000.
  • Ikediala J.N., Hansen J., Tang J., Drake S.R. and Wang S. 2002. Development of saline-water-immersion technique with RF energy as a postharvest treatment against codling moth in cherries. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 24(1): 25-37.
  • Ikediala J.N., Wang S., Tang J., Hansen J., Mitcham E., Mao R. and Swanson B. 2000, Effects of radio frequency treatments on codling moth control and storage stability of in-shell walnuts. ASAE Annual International Meeting Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 8-12, paper No. 006102.
  • Wang S., Yue J., Tang J., and Chen B. 2005. Mathematical modeling of heating uniformity of in-shell walnuts in radio frequency units with intermittent stirrings. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 35(1): 97-107. Yin X., Wang S., Tang J., and Hansen J. 2006. Thermal resistance of fifth-instar codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) as affected by pretreatment conditioning. Journal of Stored Products Research, 42:75-85.
  • Yue J., Chen B., Wang S., Tang J., and Cui Y. 2004. Optimal number of stirrings in radio frequency treatments for in-shell walnuts to assure insect mortality standard. 35th Annual Meeting of the Decision Science Institute, November 20-23, 2004, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
  • Mitcham E.J., Tang J., Hansen J.D., Monzon M.E., Biasi W.V., Wang S., and Feng X. 2004. Radio frequency heating of walnuts and sweet cherries to control insects after harvest In: V International Postharvest Symposium. June 06-11, 2004, Padova, Italy.
  • Johnson J.A., Wang S. and Tang J. 2003. Thermal death kinetics of fifth-instar Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 96(2): 519-524.
  • Johnson J.A., Wang S., and Tang J. 2001. Thermal tolerance of navel orangeworm and Indianmeal moth. Proceedings of Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction held in San Diego, CA, November 5-8, pp60-1-60-4.
  • Komarov V., Tang J., and Wang S. 2004. Finite element modeling of electromagnetic field in an experimental RF heating system. Sixth Seminar 'Computer Modeling & Microwave Power Engineering', January 12, 2004, Austin, TX, USA.
  • Monzon M.E., Biasi B., Wang S., Tang J., Gazit Y. and Mitcham E.J., 2003. Effects of radio frequency heating on fruit quality of cherimoya, white sapote and avocado as an alternative quarantine treatment. ASHS 100th annual International conference, Rhode Island, Oct. 3-6, 2003.
  • Monzon M.E., Biasi B., Wang S., Tang J., Hallman G., and Mitcham E. 2004. Effects of radio frequency heating on quality of persimmon and guava fruit as an alternative quarantine treatment. Postharvest Unlimited 2004, Nov., 10-12, 2004, Sydney, Australia.
  • Monzon M.E., Biasi B., Wang S., Tang J., Hallman G., and Mitcham E.J. 2004. Radio frequency heating of persimmon and guava fruit as an alternative quarantine treatment. 2004 ASHS annual conference, July 17-20, 2004, San Antonio, Austin TX, USA.
  • Tang J., Wang S., Mitcham E., Johnson J.A., Hansen J.D., Hallman G. 2004. Update on development of postharvest pest control treatments for nuts, citrus and tropical fruits using RF energy. Proceedings of Ninth Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction, Orlando, FL, October 31-November 3, pp75-1--75-4.
  • Tang J., Wang S., Hansen J.D., Johnson J.A., Mitcham E., Drake S.R., and Hallman G. 2002. Postharvest control of insect pests in nuts and fruits based on radio frequency energy. Postharvest Unlimited, Leuven, Belgium, June 14-17, 2002. Acta Horticulture, 599: 175-180.
  • Wang S. 2002. Radio frequency treatments for insect control in fruits and nuts -- principles and applications. Workshop on Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Development Strategy, Hangzhou, China, Dec. 3-5, 2002.
  • Wang S. and Deltour J. 2004. Leaf temperature modeling of greenhouse grown tomato. International Agricultural Engineering Journal, 13(1-2): 64-70.
  • Wang S. and J. Tang. 2004. Temperature dependent dielectric properties of tropical fruits and insects. In: ASAE/CSAE Annual International Meeting,August 01-04, 2004,Ottawa, ON, Canada Paper No. 046202. ASAE, St. Joseph, MI, USA. 11p.
  • Wang S. and Tang J. 2004. Radio frequency heating: a potential method of postharvest pest control in nuts and dry products. Journal of Zhejiang University Science, 5(10): 1169-1174.
  • Wang S., and Tang J., 2002. Radio frequency treatments to control insect pests in fruits and nuts. Proceedings of 7th IAEC, Wuxi, China, November 28-30, 2002. 8p.
  • Wang S., and Tang J., 2003. An experimental method for evaluating heating uniformity in RF systems. In: 2003 ASAE Annual International Meeting - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Paper No. 036202. ASAE, St. Joseph, MI, USA. 11p.
  • Wang S., J. Tang, J. Johnson, E. Mitcham, and J. Bower. 2002. Process protocols based on radio frequency energy to control insect pests in in-shell walnuts. IFT Annual Meeting & IFT Food Expo, Anaheim, CA, June 15-19, 2002.
  • Wang S., J. Tang, J.D. Hansen, J.A. Johnson, 2002 Differential heating of insects in walnuts using radio frequency and microwave treatments. ASAE/CIGR Annual International Meeting, July 28-31, 2002,CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. Paper No. 026002. ASAE, St. Joseph, MI, USA. 10p
  • Wang S., J. Tang, J.D. Hansen, J.A. Johnson, E. Mitcham, S. Drake, and G. Hallman. 2001. RF treatments as alternatives to chemical fumigation for insect control in nuts. Proceedings of Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction, San Diego, CA, November 5-8.
  • Wang S., Johnson J.A., Tang J., and Yin X. 2005. Heating condition effects on thermal resistance of fifth-instar navel orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Journal of Stored Products Research, 41(4): 469-478.
  • Wang S., S.L. Birla, J. Tang, and J.D. Hansen. 2005. Treatment protocols to control codling moth in apples using radio frequency energy. In: ASAE Annual International Meeting, July 17-20, 2005, Tampa, Florida, USA.
  • Wang S., Tang J. and Cavalieri R. 2001. Modeling fruit internal heating rates for hot air and hot water treatments. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 22(3): 257-270.
  • Wang S., Tang J., Johnson J.A. and Hansen J. 2002. Thermal death kinetics of fifth-instar navel orangeworms (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Journal of Stored Products Research, 38(5): 427-440.
  • Wang S., Tang J., Johnson J.A., Mitcham E., Hansen J.D., Cavalieri R, Bower J., and Biasi B. 2002. Process protocols based on radio frequency energy to control field and storage pests in in-shell walnuts. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 26(3): 265-273.
  • Wang S., Tang J., Sun T., and Birla S.L. 2004. Practical considerations on industrial implementation of radio frequency treatments on inshell walnuts. In: 1st International Conference of CIGR, Section VI: Bioproducts processing and Food Safety, October 11-14, 2004, Beijing, China.
  • Wang S., Yin X., Tang J., and Hansen J., 2004. Thermal resistance of different life stages of codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Journal of Stored Products Research, 40(5): 565-574.
  • Wang S., Tang J., Sun T., Mitcham E.J., Koral T., and Birla S.L. 2005. Considerations in design of commercial radio frequency treatments for postharvest pest control in inshell walnuts. Journal of Food Engineering, (in press.)


Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
Studies have been conducted to investigate the influence of different pre-treatment conditioning on thermal-death kinetics of five major insect pests found in fruits and nuts, namely codling moth, navel orangeworm, Indianmeal moth, Mediterranean fruit fly and Mexican fruit fly. Navel orangeworm appeared the most heat resistant insect and Mexican fruit fly was the least one. A heat shock protein was detected that contributes to increased thermal resistance in codling moth. The theoretical basis developed (based on this study) was used to develop practical non-chemical pest control strategy based on Radio Frequency energy. A separate study is in progress to develop effective means to deliver RF energy uniformity to fresh fruits (apples and citrus) that could reduce treatment time and retain fruit quality.

Impacts
We have developed theoretical bases for thermal death kinetics of pest as influenced by pre-treatment conditions. We have developed a unique method to provide uniform heating in fresh fruits to reduce treatment time and retain product quality. These results will greatly influence and guide other research scientists and engineering in their research to develop environmental friendly non-chemical pest control methods. I am leading the writing of a book to systematically document our findings and compile other complementary information for use as a guide to other researchers. Contributors of the book are the leading experts worldwide in this field.

Publications

  • Hansen, J.D., Wang, S., and Tang, J. 2004. A cumulated lethal time model to valuate efficacy of heat treatments for codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in cherries. J. Post-Harvest Biology and Technology 33(3): 309-317.
  • Birla, S.L., Wang, S., and Tang, J. 2004. Improving heating uniformity of fresh fruits in radio frequency treatments for pest control. Postharvest Biology and Technology 33(2):205-217.
  • Feng, X., Hansen, J.D., Biasi, B., Tang, J., and Mitcham, E.J. 2004. Use of hot water treatment to control codling moths in harvested California `Bing' sweet cherries. J. Postharvest Biology and Technology 28(1):41-49.
  • Gozit, Y., Wang, S., Tang, J., and Lurie, S. 2004. Thermal death kinetics of egg and 3rd instar Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis captitata (Wiedemann)(Diptera:Tephritidae). J. Econ. Entomology 97(5):1540-1546.
  • Hansen, J.D., Drake, S.R., Heidt, M.L., Watkins, M.A., Tang, J. and Wang, S. 2004. Radio frequency treatments for postharvest codling moth control in fresh apples. HortTechnology, 14(4):533-537.
  • Johnson, J.A., Valero, K.A., Wang, S., and Tang, J. 2004. Thermal death kinetics of red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) J.Entomology 97(6): 1868-1873.
  • Mitcham, E.J., Veltman, R.H., Feng, X., De Castro, E., Simpson, T.L., Johnson, J.A., Biasi, W.V., Wang, S., and Tang, J. 2004. Application of radio frequency treatments to control insects in in-shell walnuts. J. Postharvest Biology and Technology 33(1): 93-101.
  • Wang, S., and Tang, J. 2004. Radio frequency heating: a potential method for post-harvest control of pests in nuts and dry products. J. Zhejiang University SCIENCE. 5(10):1169-1174.
  • Wang, S., Yin, X., Tang, J., and Hansen, J.D. 2004. Thermal resistance of different life stages of codling moth (Lepidopteria: Tortricidae). J. Stored Product Res. 40(50): 565-574.


Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03

Outputs
Studies have been conducted on thermal-death kinetics of five major insect pests found in fruits and nuts, namely codling moth, navel orangeworm, Indianmeal moth, Mediterranean fruit fly and Mexican fruit fly. The navel orangeworm appeared to be the most heat resistant insect and the Mexican fruit fly appeared to be the least heat resistant. A 0.5th order reaction model was found most suitable to describe the thermal death kinetics for these five insects. A theoretical basis and experimental evidence were found to support the hypothesis that insect larvae can be preferentially heated in dry nuts by radio frequency heating for pest control. A treatment protocol based on radio frequency (RF) energy was successfully developed to control fifth-instar navel orangeworm in walnuts without quality damage. Quality evaluation of walnuts, almonds, cherries and oranges after heat treatments has been conducted. A study is in progress on disinfestation of citrus and tropical fruits using radio frequency energy and for scaling-up the treatment protocol of disinfesting walnuts.

Impacts
The project provides fundamental and essential information for developing heat treatments for postharvest pest control in fruits and nuts to replace chemical fumigation. Since non-uniformity of RF heated oranges has been improved, developing the potential treatment protocol for fresh fruits will help industries to implement this technology.

Publications

  • Johnson, J.A., Wang, S., and Tang, J. 2003. Thermal death kinetics of 5th instar Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). J. Economic Entomology. 96(2): 519-524.
  • Tang, J., Wang, S., Hansen, J., Johnson, J., Mitcham, E., Drake, S., and Hallman, G. 2003. Postharvest control of insect pests in nuts and fruits based on radio frequency energy. Acta Hort. 599:175-181.
  • Wang S., Tang, J., Cavalieri, R., and Davis, D. 2003. Differential heating of insect pests in dried nuts and fruits associated with radio frequency and microwave treatments. Trans. ASAE. 46(4): 1175-1182.
  • Wang, S., Tang, J., Johnson, J.A., Mitcham, E., Hansen, J.D., Hallman, G., Drake, S.R., and Wang, Y.F. 2003. Dielectric properties of fruits, nuts, and insect pests as related to radio frequency and microwave treatments. Biosystems Engineering. 85(2):201-212.
  • Wang, S., Tang, J., and Younce, F. 2003. Temperature measurement in food processing. In: Encyclopedia of Agricultural and Food Engineering, D. R. Heldman (Ed.). Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY. (p. 987-993.)


Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02

Outputs
There has been major progress made in this research in 2002, especially in the development and publication of kinetic models for the thermal mortality of three important insect pests (codling moths, navel orangeworms, and Indian meal moths). The research provides a solid foundation for future efforts in developing conventional and new thermal treatments methods for non-chemical treatment of agricultural commodities. We have also initiated work with an industrial collaborator, Diamond Walnuts (Stockton, California), to study the scaling-up of radio frequency pest treatment protocol which was developed in my laboratory.

Impacts
We believe that our research lays a solid foundation that has a long-term impact on future development of conventional and new thermal treatments methods for non-chemical treatment of agricultural commodities. Reviewers comments on our manuscripts presenting the thermal mortality kinetics described our high quality work as, "Solid Groundwork", "Landmark", and "Exemplary".

Publications

  • Ikediala, J.N., Hansen, J., Tang, J.*, Drake, S.R., Wang, S. 2002. Quarantine treatment of cherries using radio frequency energy and saline-water-immersion technique. Postharvest Biology and Technology 24:25-37.
  • Wang, J. and Tang, J*. 2002. Novel nonchemical post-harvest quarantine and phytosanitary treatments to control insect pests in fruits and nuts for international trades. In Production Practices and Quality Assessment of Food Crops. Vol. 1 Postharvest Treatment. Pirtta Halttu-Dris (Ed.). HAWORTH.(invited contribution)
  • Wang, S., Ikediala, J., Tang, J., J Hansen, J.D. 2002. Thermal death kinetics and heating rate effects for 5th instar codling moth larvae (Cydia pomonella (L.)). J. Stored Products Research 38:427-440.
  • Wang, S., Tang, J., Judy A. Johnson, Hansen, J.D. 2002. Thermal death kinetics of 5th instar navel orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae. J. Stored Products Research 26(3):265-273.


Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01

Outputs
This inter-disciplinary consortium project has progressed very well. We have made the following achievements in 2001: 1) Determined heat resistance of different life stages for codling moth and navel orangeworm; 2) developed treatment protocols for in-shell walnuts;3) Determined the dielectric properties of seven fruits and nuts along with four associated insects pests as affected by frequency and temperature.

Impacts
Representatives from fruit and nut industries, the government and research communities at the 2001 Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions in San Diego, California, were excited by our presentation. We reported on the novel treatment protocols based on radio frequency energy that we have developed to control Insect pests in in-shell walnuts without causing an adverse effect on quality. If successful, the impact of our technology to the tree fruit and nut industries will be extremely high. These industries have only three years to find a solution to replace methyl bromide, which is harmful to ozone layer and is mandated to stop for most uses by 2005. So far our protocol seems to be most practical and effective.

Publications

  • Buranasompob, A., J. Tang, R. Mao, J. R. Powers, S. Clark, and B. G. Swanson. 2001. Lopoxygenase activity in walnuts and almonds. Proceedings of the Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, June 23-27. (49C4).
  • Ikediala, J.N., S. Wang, and J. Tang. 2001. Heat treatment of large fruits: Comparison of temperature distribution using conventional and RF with matched saline water immersion methods. Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Annual Meeting, Sacramento, CA, July 29-August 1 (Paper No.016169).
  • Mitcham, E., C. Tipping, T. Simpson, J. Tang, J. Hansen, S. Wang, J. Bower, B. Biasi and J. A. Johnson, 2001. Control of Arthropod Pests after Harvest using CA, GRAS Fumigants or Radio Frequency Heating. Proceeding of international Symposium on Recent Drying and Storage Technology of Foods and Agricultural Products. Souel, South Korea, November 3, 2001.
  • Wang, S., J. Tang, and J. N. Ikediala, 2001. Combined radio frequency and hot air treatment for insect control and drying of in-shell walnuts. Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Annual Meeting, Sacramento, CA, July 29-August 1. (Paper No.016170.)
  • Wang, S. and J. Tang. 2001. Radio frequency and microwave alternative treatments for insect control in nuts: a review. Agricultural Engineering Journal. l0(3&4): 105-120.
  • Wang, S., J. N. Ikediala, J. Tang, J. D. Hansen, E. Mictlmm, R. Mao, and B. Swanson. 2001. Radio frequency treatments to control codling moth in in-shell walnuts. Post-Harvest Biology and Technology. 22 (l): 29-38.
  • Wang, S., J. Tang, J. D. Hansen, E. Mitcham, S. Drake, and G. HalIman. 2001. RF treatments as alternatives to chemical fumigation for insect control in nuts. Proceedings of the 2001 Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions, San Diego, CA, November 5-8, pp80-1-80-3


Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00

Outputs
This project started on September 1, 2000. This consortia project is just at the beginning of each planned task. We have started some work but with no concrete results yet.

Impacts
This project will develop effective and environmentally friendly physical methods based on the kinetics of insect thermal mortality, product quality and fundamental engineering principles. The developed protocols will be verified, in partnership with small and mid-sized stakeholders, by large quantity field tests and evaluated comprehensively, including economic and energy analysis. This research will help to establish a sound theoretical foundation for thermal treatment of insects and will benefit other researchers working on the development and implementation of alternative thermal treatments for postharvest insect control. The physical treatments based on RF and microwaves will provide safe, effective, and environmentally-friendly pest control processes that can be readily implemented (equipment required is currently used commercially by the baking and textile industry and can be readily modified for implementation). This research will help the multi-billion dollar US tree fruit and nut industries to implement effective and modern treatment technologies to maintain sustained international and domestic competitiveness.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period