Some species of the genus Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae) are successfully managed by matching the sterile insect technique with parasitoid releases. Such strategies used in integrated pest management can be implemented only where insect mass-rearing programs are feasible. In this study, we show the process of domestication, rearing technology and quality control data obtained from 54 generations of Anastrepha sp.1 aff. fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) kept under fully artificial conditions. Eggs were collected by an artificial oviposition panel consisting of one side of the cage made of blue voile fabric externally covered with a thin layer of silicon rubber. They were then air-bubbled in water at 25 ºC for 48 h before seeding. Larvae were reared on the regular laboratory artificial diet with 66 % of agar reduction turning over a semi-liquid diet, which reduced costs and improved insect quality. The adult and larval diets were composed of local ingredients including hydrolyzed yeast. When large-scale production of this fly is contemplated, the critical stage is larval development. This system of artificial rearing for A. fraterculus sp.1 developed in Brazil, allows for the production of a large number of insects of excellent quality using local ingredients and less agar in diet composition than the original medium used for this species. By reducing the interval of egg collection, the system might be optimized in terms of insect yield and, therefore, meet the demands of A. fraterculus sp.1 with regard to integrated pest management purposes.

Ceratitis capitata is one of the most important pests of fruits for exportation, and Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) has been the most efficient and environmental friendly technique used to control fruit fly populations around the world. A key goal in achieving a successful SIT program is a mass rearing system producing high quality insects at low cost. Providing adults with an artificial diet containing hydrolysed protein has been the major obstacle for bio-production facilities in Brazil, because it is expensive and has to be imported. Two other commercial products, autolysed yeast (AY) and yeast extract (YE), of domestic origin and low cost, were tested as substitutes of the imported hydrolyzed protein. To compare their efficiency we observed the female fecundity, adult survival and egg viability of flies raised on diets containing one of each of the different protein products. Flies reared on the domestic yeast products had equivalent or superior performance to the flies reared on imported protein. Both AY and YE can be a possible substitute for imported hydrolyzed protein for C. capitata mass-rearing, as they are cheaper and are readily available in the national market.

The aim of this study was to find alternatives to reduce the cost of mass production of the South American fruit fly (A. fraterculus) by looking for locally available products as protein source in the diet of adults to replace the imported product without changing the quality parameters. Two yeast from a Brazilian company were evaluated. The quality parameters showed that the imported hydrolyzed yeast used in the adult diet could be perfectly replaced by the local products tested, with a reduction of over 80% of the cost of the diet. The quality of the produced insects remained the same and there were improvements in some quality parameters such as the volume of eggs produced, number of adults flying and longevity under the stress.

Para se exportar, é necessário não só atingir padrões de qualidade exigidos pelo país importador, mas também padrões fitossanitários. A irradiação tem como principal função o controle quarentenário de moscas-das-frutas, portanto é necessário que se associe a tratamentos que visem à manutenção da qualidade do fruto. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade dos mamões submetidos à imersão em água quente seguidos de irradiação em doses de tratamento quarentenário. Os mamões verdes selecionados foram submetidos aos seguintes tratamentos: a) controle; b) 250 Gy; c) 500 Gy; d) choque térmico (60º C por 30 segundos); e) 250 Gy + choque térmico, e f) 500 Gy + choque térmico. Os mamões foram armazenados a 21±1ºC e umidade relativa de 85-90%, e, após 8 dias, foram avaliados quanto ao teor de sólidos solúveis, pH, acidez titulável, firmeza, índice de doenças e coloração interna. As análises de perda de massa e coloração externa foram realizadas a 0; 2; 4 e 7 dias após a irradiação. Foi observado nos frutos submetidos a choque térmico (d, e, f) quantidade menor de sintomas de antracnose e podridão peduncular e, nos tratamentos combinados (e, f), foi verificada manutenção da firmeza do mamão. Somente no segundo dia os frutos irradiados (b, c, e, f) estavam mais amarelados que os demais. Para os demais parâmetros avaliados, não houve diferença entre os tratamentos.

To export, it is not only necessary to achieve quality standards, but also, phytosanitary standards. The main function of irradiation is quarantine control of fruit flies, therefore it is necessary to combine with treatments which focus at keeping fruit quality. The objective of this work was the evaluation of the quality of papaya submitted to irradiation and heat shock treatment through immersion in hot water. Green papayas selected were submitted in the following treatments: a) control, b) 250 Gy, c) 500 Gy; d) heat shock (60ºC for 30 seconds), e) 250 Gy + heat shock and f) 500 Gy + heat shock. The papayas were stored at 21 ±1ºC with relative humidity of 85-90%, and then after 8 days, they were evaluated by their soluble solid content, pH, titratable acidity, firmness, decay index and internal color. The analysis of fresh matter loss and external color were executed at 0, 2, 4 and 7 days after irradiation. It was observed that in treatments submitted to hot water (d, e, f) decay was controlled and in combined treatments (e, f) it was verified higher firmness. In the second day, irradiated treatments (b, c, e, and f) were yellower than the others. As to the other factors evaluated, there were no differences between treatments.

O mamão é um fruto frágil, perecível, muito apreciado mundialmente. Para que a qualidade do mamão se mantenha da colheita até os consumidores, técnicas de conservação são utilizadas, sendo uma destas a aplicação de radiação gama. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a aplicação de irradiação gama em mamões colhidos em diferentes estádios de maturação com a intenção de aumentar a vida útil pós-colheita. Mamões foram colhidos em perfeitas condições de qualidade e selecionados pela coloração amarela em três fases distintas: maturação 0, ou início da coloração amarela; maturação 1, com estrias amarelas mais desenvolvidas, e maturação 2, com um terço da casca já amarelo. Metade destes foi irradiada com 0,75 kGy e a outra se tornou testemunhas. A análise se deu em quatro períodos de conservação sendo estes 1 DAI (dias após a irradiação sob refrigeração a 11 ± 1°C), 14 DAI, 14 DAI + 3 DTA (dias a temperatura ambiente a 24° ± 2°C) e 14 DAI + 6 DTA. Não houve diferença entre os mamões irradiados em diferentes estádios de maturação. A irradiação promoveu manutenção da firmeza do mamão e, portanto, retardo no amadurecimento; modificou a cor verde do mamão para tons mais claros e mais intensos o que determinou maior homogeneidade no desenvolvimento da cor amarela da casca (valores de brilho e croma maiores). Não houve efeito da irradiação na perda de massa, aparecimento de doenças, na cor interna dos frutos, no pH e no teor de sólidos solúveis.

Papaya is a fragile, perishable fruit, highly accepted worldwide. To keep the quality of papaya from harvest to the consumers, conservation techniques are often used; among them is the application of gamma irradiation. The objective of this work was to evaluate gamma irradiation in papayas harvested at three degrees of maturation, in order to increase shelf life. Papayas were harvested in perfect quality conditions and selected by skin coloration into three distinct degrees of maturation: maturation 0, or beginning of yellow coloration; maturation 1, yellow stripes more developed, and maturation 2, one third yellow. Half of them were irradiated with 0.75 kGy, while the other half became control treatment. They were analyzed in four periods of conservation, which were 1 DAI (days after irradiation refrigerated at 11 ± 1°C), 14 DAI, 14 DAI + 3 DRT (room temperature at 24° ± 2°C) and 14 DAI + 6 DRT. The papaya maturation degree at harvest did not influence the radiation effect. Irradiation maintained firmness of papaya and, therefore, delayed ripening; modified the green color of papaya to a lighter, more intense tone, which determined more homogeneity in the development of the skin's yellow color (greater values of L* and croma). There was no effect of irradiation in papaya weight loss, occurrence of diseases, croma of flesh color, pH and total soluble solids contents.