Effect of late season phosphine application on dried fig quality

Dried fig industry is the most affected from MeBr ban due to prevalence of storage pests namely fig moth, Ephestia cautella Walk. Magnesium phosphide was tested for exposure times of 5 and 7 days at 1.0 and 2.0 g t^‑1 phosphine (PH₃) of dried fig under tarpaulin to control two major pests of dried figs, fig moth (Ephestia cautella Walk.) and fig mite (Carpoglyphus lactis L.). The experiment was performed to test the efficiency of phosphine treatment during a cooler period. The control fruits were fumigated with MeBr at 60 g m^‑3 level for 24 h. The results proved that the tested concentrations and exposure periods to PH₃ provided 100% mortality of the test species. After exposure to PH₃ or MeBr, fruit quality was preserved under ambient storage conditions for three months. A minimum of 5 days exposure after PH₃ applied as 1-2 g per ton of dried fig is required during cooler period.