Project Number: 5302-43000-037-13
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Oct 01, 2011
End Date: Sep 30, 2013

Objective:
Quantify spotted wing drosophila distribution in geographically distinct Western U.S. commercial stone fruit orchards, index this distribution relative to other suitable host crops, and enumerate the probability of SWD removal and/or mortality as a function of harvesting, cleaning, packing, and shipping procedures employed by the stone fruit industry, particularly with respect toward Australian and New Zealand export. In addition, low-temperature high-concentration phosphine fumigation will be evaluated for its technical and economic potential to serve as a final element of mitigation against spotted wing drosophila.

Approach:
This project is planned in 3 compounding phases as indicated below with corresponding objectives and hypotheses. Phase 1, year 1. Perform host trials to demonstrate status in peach, plum, nectarine and apricot for spotted wing drosophila and designate categories of host preference (such as, stage of maturity, commercial export grade or physical condition of the fruits) in stone fruits. Phase 2, year 2. Design, refine and execute experiments that allow spotted wing drosophila population densities to be traced through chemical and physical processes that are consistent with Western US stone fruit production and distribution to Australian and New Zealand markets. Phase 3, year 3. Determine the mortality of spotted wing drosophila eggs, larvae, pupae and adults in infested stone fruit, as well as, the phytotoxicological impact that results from Vaporphos phosphine at 3-5 C and index relative to methyl bromide at 15.6 C.