Fruit-flies attack mature fruits preferentially, and they could also attack immature fruits, and deposit its eggs. Fruits become soft and injured and pulp is totally compromised. The objective of this study was to evaluate efficiency of thermal treatment with vapor aiming C. capitata control without damaging fruit Spondias mombin quality. First, fruits had been harvested, disinfested and standardized according of the size and maturation point. After that, fruits were seccioned longitudinally and infested with ten eggs/fruits at 24-hour age. After 72 hours infestation, fruits were submitted at treatment with vapour at 46 and 50°C in exposition times of zero, ten, 20, 30 and 40 minutes. Mortality evaluations had been carried through 7 days after, by surviving larvae counting. Chemical pulp analysis, was done based on the total of soluble solids, titrable acidity and the pH, the thermal treatment, was carried 48 hours after. The temperature of 46°C, S. mombin fruits must remain displayed on vapour for 27 minutes and at 50°C during 20 minutes, aiming the control of the C. capitata larvae fruits flies, without compromising the characteristics physico-chemistry evaluated.
mediterranean fruit fly; Spondias monbin; thermal treatment; postharvest
