Postharvest Quarantine Treatments for Diaphorina citri on Infested Curry Leaves

Abstract

Studies were conducted to evaluate treatments that reduce survival and attachment of Diaphorina citri nymphs on infested curry leaves (Bergera koenigii). Decontamination of curry leaves infested with D. citri in relation to disinfectant (none or Pro-San), temperature (0, 40, and 50°C), and treatment duration (0, 5, 10, and 20 min) was examined using a split-split plot design. Experiments were performed three times. Treatment duration did not significantly affect D. citri nymph survival or removal (P > 0.2). Temperature and disinfectant each significantly affected D. citri nymph survival and removal (P < 0.031). The interaction of temperature and disinfectant was significant with respect to nymph survival (P < 0.0001) but did not significantly affect removal (P = 0.4589). Tissue damage was significantly affected by temperature (P = 0.0056), duration (P = 0.0023), the interaction of temperature and duration (P = 0.0320), and the interaction of disinfectant, temperature, and duration (P = 0.0410). Of the treatments resulting in 100% D. citri nymph mortality on infested curry leaves, 40°C for 5 min with Pro-San was accompanied with the least proportion of curry leaf tissue damage (0.14 greater than untreated control, P = 0.25). Results from these studies may be useful in formulation of future regulatory policies regarding trade of citrus foliage, especially those used as condiments.