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Background:
The
production of fruits and vegetables has reached a very high level
in the EC and is an important source of income for many European
farmers, transporting companies and traders. In fact, in many
areas there is a surplus of production and export markets are
being explored. The far-east markets (Japan, P. R. of China, S.
Korea, Taiwan, etc.), in particular, are developing quickly and
could become a major outlet for the export of fresh citrus fruit
from the Mediterranean region.
A
major obstacle, however, is the strict quarantine regulations
imposed by those countries to prevent the introduction of exotic
pests such as the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata
Wiedemann. Currently the most widely used post-harvest treatment
for citrus involves the exposure of the fruit to near-freezing
temperatures for 10-16 days. Unfortunately, many citrus cultivars
cannot tolerate the cold treatment and develop chilling injury,
so alternative treatments are urgently needed to expand the selection
of citrus varieties for export.
Objectives:
The
objectives of the project are to:
1.
develop alternative abiotic quarantine treatments instead of cold
quarantine;
2.
determine fruit fly response, including thermo-tolerance development,
the response of hsp70 in the insect, its use as a marker to determine
treatment efficacy; and to predict successful treatments;
3.
determine how treatments successful in controlling fruit fly affect
fungal pathogens;
4.
determine biochemical responses of the fruit, including induction
or maintenance of defence responses against insects and fungi;
5.
isolate stress genes and characterise them;
6.
determine the effect of the treatments on fruit quality and organoleptic
properties, and to test the successful treatments under semi-commercial
conditions.
Description:
Each
country will develop abiotic treatments for those local citrus
cultivars which are sensitive to chilling injury. The treatments
to be tested include high temperature (hot water or hot air),
low oxygen, high carbon dioxide, and combinations of these to
reduce treatment time.
Current
situation/results:
Fruit
flies, both laboratory reared and wild strains, have been tested
for sensitivity to temperatures between 40-50_C. Sensitivity to
low oxygen and/or high carbon dioxide is currently being determined.
On the basis of this data, trials are beginning with citrus to
find a time-temperature combination which will kill the insect
without damaging the fruit.
Coordinator
Susan
LURIE
Agricultural
Research Organisation
P.O.B.
6
IL-50
250 Bet Dagan
Tel:
+972 39 68 36 06
Fax:
+972 39 68 36 22
E-mail:
zeslov@netvision.net.il
Partners
- Angelos KANELLIS
National Agricultural Research Foundation
Egialias 19 & Halepa
GR-15125 Marousi
Tel: +30 81 24 58 51
Fax: +30 81 24 58 58
E-mail: kanellis@nefeli.imbb.forth.gr
- Benito ORIHUEL
Anecoop Sociedad Cooperativa
Monforte 1
Entresuelo
E-46010 Valencia
Tel: +34 96 393 85 12
Fax: +34 96 393 85 51
E-mail: benitoo@ctv.es
- Maria Teresa LAFUENTE
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas
C/ Serrano 117
E-28006 Madrid
Tel: +34 91 390 00 22
Fax: +34 91 363 63 01
E-mail: postcoe@iata.csic.es
- Mario Mauro SCHIRRA
CNR - Istituto per la Fisiologia della Maturazione e Conservazione
del Frutto delle Specie Arboree Mediterranee
Localita' Palloni Nuraxinieddu
I-09170 Oristano
Tel: +39 078 33 32 24
Fax: +39 078 33 39 59
E-mail: schirra@hpj.area.ss.cnr.it
- Yoram ROSSLER
Citrus Marketing Board
P.O.B. 80
IL-50 250 Bet Dagan
Tel: +972 32 68 38 17
Fax: +972 39 68 38 38
E-mail: rossler@netvision.net.il
- Aristidis P. ECONOMOPOULOS
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas
Vasilika Vouton
GR-71110 Heraklion
Tel: +30 81 39 32 90
Fax: +30 81 23 91 55
E-mail: economop@nefeli.imbb.forth.gr
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