CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE TEMPERATURE TREATMENT: NON-CHEMICAL (QUARANTINE) PEST CONTROL IN FRESH PLANT PRODUCTS

Insects, nematodes and mites that damage postharvest plant products can cause severe quality losses or trade restrictions in case of quarantine organisms. With the ban of the ozone depleting methyl bromide (MeBr), the most widely used chemical for phytosanitary treatments, effective and sustainable alternatives are required. A physical method, Controlled Atmosphere Temperature Treatment (CATT) can be a sustainable alternative for the control of pests on living plant products. Optimising CA-conditions besides temperature and exposure time can help in developing successful applications. In The Netherlands, a successful application to disinfest strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) planting material from strawberry tarsonemid mite (Phytonemus pallidus) or plant parasitic nematodes Meloidogyne hapla was developed and implemented in practice. Initial tests with a number of other potential quarantine plant-pest combinations showed promising results of CATT.