Question

Vapour heat treatment given to mango fruits controls the

• A. Mango hopper
• B. Mango mealy bug
• C. Mango fruit fly
• D. Mango stem borer

Hint:

Heat treatments (like VHT and hot water treatment) and irradiation are key quarantine measures for fruits. They primarily target internal pests that are difficult to detect, with fruit flies being the most common target globally.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks which specific pest is controlled by Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT) in mangoes.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Vapour Heat Treatment is a quarantine procedure used for disinfestation of fresh fruits, particularly for export markets. The treatment involves heating the fruit with air saturated with water vapor to a specific core temperature for a set duration. This process is lethal to the eggs and larvae of insects that may be present inside the fruit without damaging the fruit itself. The primary target for this treatment in mangoes is the tephritid fruit fly (*Bactrocera dorsalis*), as it is a major quarantine pest for many importing countries. The other pests listed (hopper, mealy bug, stem borer) are primarily field pests and are not the main target of post-harvest heat treatments like VHT.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Vapour heat treatment given to mango fruits controls the Mango fruit fly.