**United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service**  **Plant Protection and Quarantine**



# Importation of fresh **pomegranate (**  **Punica granatum**  **L.) fruit from**  **India into the**  **continental United States**  **including Alaska**

**Risk Managem ent Document** 

**June 30, 2011 Ver.**  **3 .0** 

**Plant Health Programs (PHP) Regulations, Permit and Manuals**  **Contact Person: donna.l.west**  **@ aphis.**  **usda.gov**

### A. Introduction

The National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of India requested market access to export fresh pomegranate fruit , Punica granatum L. **,** to the continental United States , including Alaska. P omegranate s have not been exported from India to the United States before so a pathway

initiated pest risk assessment (PRA) was prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) . The PRA, Importation of Fresh Fruit of Pomegranate, Punica granatum L., from India into the Continental United States, A Qualitative, Pathway

- initiated Pest Risk Assessment (USDA, 2011), was based on the documents submitted by India, APHIS’ records of intercepted pests, and s cientific literature . During bilateral discussions held in 2010, India further proposed to treat the fruit with an APHI S approved generic irradiation treatment that would mitigate risks from most insect pests. The PRA identified the following 25 quarantine pests that could follow the fruit pathway : **Pests with High risk**  **potential:** Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae) Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Cryptoblabes gnidiella Millière (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Deudorix epijarbas (Moore) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) Deudorix isocrates Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) Drosicha dalbergiae (Green) (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) Euzophera bigella Zeller (Lepidoptera : P yr alidae) Icerya seychellarum Westwood (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Planococcus lilacinus (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Pseudococcus cryptus Hempel (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) **Pests with Medium risk potential:** Bactrocera carambolae (Drew & Hancock) (Diptera: Tephritidae) Ceroplastes rubens (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) Ceroplastes rusci (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera : Coccidae) Dichocrocis megillalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Dysmicoccus neobrevipes Beardsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas) (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Planococcus angkorensis (Takahashi) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Rhipiphorothrips cruentatus Hood (Thy sanoptera: Thripidae) Scirtothrips oligochaetus Kary ny (Th ys anoptera: Thripidae) Tenuipalpus granati Sayed (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) Tenuipalpus punicae Pritchard & Baker (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. p unicae ( Hingorani & Singh) (Xanthomonads)Analy sis of the pests indicated that all but three pests likely to follow the pathway

are insect pests and most of them would be effectivel y neutralized with the irradiation generic dose of 400 Gy (USDA, 2006). Onl y pupa e and adult stages of the Lepidopteran pests may not be effectivel y neutralized by

irradiation (USDA, 2006). In addition to insect pests, there are two mites, Tenuipalpus granati and Tenuipalpus punicae, and one bacterium, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punic ae, that may

also follow the pathway

. Since irradiation is not an approved treatment for these non

- insect pests, additional measures would be needed to mitigate risk from these pests. The proposed importation of pomegranate from India , if approved, would be regulated b y an amendment to the APHIS’ Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements (FAVIR) database available on

- line. This risk management document outlines the phy tosanitary measures that APHI S will require for the importation of pomegranates from India and documents the evidence used by APHI S to conclude that these measures will effectivel y prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the continental United States

. **B. Risk M**  **anagement Measures**  APHI S proposes to allow the i mportation of the fresh pomegranate fruit from India into the continental United States including Alaska under the following conditions: (a) The fruit must be commercially produced and be part of a commercial consignment as defined in 7 CFR 319.56

- 2. (b) The fruit must be irradiated with a minimum absorbed dose of 400 Gy and follow the requirements of 7CFR parts 305 and 319. (c) Prior to irradiation the fruits must be washed, brushed, disinfested and submerged in surfactant at packinghouse. (d) Prior to departure from In dia :  If irradiation is applied outside the United States, each consignment of fruit must be inspected jointly

by APHI S and Indian inspectors. Using a sampling procedure mutually agreed upon b y APHI S and the NPPO, a representative sample of fruit must be drawn from each lot, inspected and found free from the two mites, Tenuipalpus granati and Tenuipalpus punicae , and the bacterium, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae

. A Phy tosanitary Certificate (PC) issued by the NPPO of India must accompany each consignment certifying that the fruit received the required irradiation treatment with 400 Gy as the minimum absorbed dose. The PC must also include an AD stating that the co nsignment was inspected by the Indian inspectors and found free from Tenuipalpus granati, Tenuipalpus punicae, and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae

.  If irradiation is to be applied upon arrival in the United States, each consignment of fruit must be insp ected by Indian inspectors. Using a sampling procedure mutually agreed upon b y APHI S and the Indian NPPO, a representative sample of fruit must be drawn from each lot, inspected and found free from the two mites, Tenuipalpus granati and Tenuipalpus punica e, and one bacterium, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae. A Phy tosanitary Certificate (PC) issued by the NPPO of India must accompany each consignment with an Additional Declaration (AD) stating that the consignment was inspected b y the Indian inspectors and found free from Tenuipalpus granati, Tenuipalpus punicae, and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae . (e) Each consignment is subject to inspection at the U

. S

. ports
- of

- entry
.**C. Evidence for the Effective Removal of Pests of Concern from the Pathway** 

(i ) Insect Pests: Twenty

- two of the 25 pests likely to follow the pomegranate pathway are insect pests. A minimum absorbed dose of 400 Gy has been determined by

APHIS regulations ( 7CFR305.9 ) to be adequate to neutralize all insect pes ts excluding adults and pupae in th e order Lepidoptera. Of the 22 insect pests likely

to follow the pathway , six belong to the order Lepidoptera . Although the generic irradiation treatment is not approved for Lepidoptera pupae and adults, those life st ages are unlikel y to be associated with the c ommodity

. Due to their mobility, free

- living adults of Lepidoptera are unlikely to be in the pathway of commercially produced pomegranate fruits. Larval activity

on fruit by Cryptoblabes gnidiella, is indicated by the presence of si lk (CABI, 2010), sy mptoms of damage by Conogethes punctiferalis and Dichocrocis megillalis larvae reveal feeding holes and excretions, which cover the fruit surface and hav e a high sugar content attracting other insect pests and diseases , which damage fruit and cause fruit drop (CABI, 2010). Deudorix isocrates and D. epijabras larval damage is conspicuous , withan offensive smell and excreta coming out of the entry holes on fruit, and with the affected fruits ultimately falling down (Patil et al. , 2002). Though data on Euzophera bigella are lacking, the related species E

. punicella, has been recorded to show that the larvae tunnel either from the side or from the blossom end and feed on the developing seeds. Such infested fruit are emaciate d and have a stunted appearance (Nazir Ahmed, 1942). As for the pupal stage, in case of Conogethes punctiferalis, Cryptoblabes gnidiella, Deudorix epijarbas, Deudorix isocrates, Euzophera bigella, and Dichocrocis megillalis , the pupae are either associate d with plant parts other than fruit or they

occur externally

on their host’s plant parts (Ahmed, 1977; Avidov and Harpaz, 1969; CABI, 2007; Hall, 1931; Hill, 1987; Hwang and Hsieh, 1989; IPM DANIDA, 2003; Nair, 1975; Ohta, 1940; Ooi et al., 2002; Popich et al., 1995; Underhill, 1943; van den Berg et al., 2001; Verma, 1985 ). If the pupae occur inside the fruit or seed of their host plants ( CABI, 2007; Franssen, 1936; Gupta et al., 2005; Verma, 1985; Waite and Hwang, 2002; Zaka ur Rab, 1980 ), they would be associated with premature fruit drop and/or obvious damage and sy mptoms ( CABI, 2007; Gupta et al., 2005; Waite and Hwang, 2002 ), thereb y maki ng it likely for the fruit to be culled during standard harvest or post

- harvest handling and processing. E xcept for two interceptions of Conopomorpha spp. in permit cargo with litchi fruit, inspectors at U.S. ports of entry have never intercepted pupae of the other Lepidoptera genera of concern associated with commercial fruit shipments (of any type of fruit) ( PestID, 2009 ). This lack of interception is evidence of the low likelihood of any of the Lepidoptera pupae following the pathway of commercial fruit. The irradiation treatment , along with standard postharvest processes , therefore, will likely mitigate the risks from all the insects listed above. (ii) Mites: Standard post

- harvest practices for pomegranates include culling, washing, and cold storage (P rat and Botti, 2002). Surface pests on fruits such as mites can be readil y eliminated by submerging the fruits in water with a surfactant, followed by brushing and pressurized water spray s (Hansen et al ., 2006). The host range of T. granati appears to be fairly narrow: i t ismainly

a pest of grapevines (CABI, 2007; Jeppeson et al

. , 1975), but has occasionally been associated with pomegranates (Jeppeson et. al, 1975). T. punicae infests leaves, small branches, and sometimes fruit of pomegranate trees , but i t does not appear to be a significant pest any where in the world (USDA, 201 1 )

. Standard post

- harvest practices in India in conjunction with inspection by the Indian NPPO and the phy tosanitary certificate with additional declaration stating freedom of T enuipalpus granati and Tenuipalpus punicae, will ensure removal of the two mites from the pathway

. (iii) Bacteria: Indian pomegranate fruits must be washed, brushed and disinfested of bacteria at packing houses with a treatment prior to shipment

. The treatment, to be agreed upon by APHI S and the Indian NPPO, is to neutralize the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. p unicae

. Three surface disinfectants are currently approved by

USDA for the related bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis pv . citri decontamination of regulated citrus fruit (7 CFR § 301

- 75

- 7 ) moved within the United States: sodium hy pochlorite, SOPP (sodium orthophenyl phenate) and perox ya cetic acid (CFR , 2011 ) . Various studies demonstrated the effectiveness of these disinfectants in reducing numbers of X. axonopodis pv . citri cells or similar bacteria to low or undetectable levels (Obata et al., 1969; Brown & Schubert, 1987; Canteros et al., 2000; Ry bak & Canteros, 2001; CFR, 2006; CFR, 2007 ) . These disinfectants should be effective against all pathov ars of Xanthomonas axonopodis including pv. punicae

. As a standard industry

practice, Indian pomegranates are processed at packinghouses immediately

after harvest (USDA, 2010) where they are cleaned and washed with potable water containing sodium h ypochlo rite (200 ppm), which reduces surface bacterial inoculum. Inspection b y the Indian NPPO and the phytosanitary certificate with additional declaration stating freedom of the disease will ensure the introduction of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. Punicae is prev ented

. The bacterium produces blemishes and black spots (USDA, 201 1 ; Petersen et al. , 2010); on immature fruits the affected pericarp fruit tissue do not expand during fruit expansion, causing fruit bursting, splitting (Petersen et. al. , 2010). These sympt oms will help recognize the disease and affected fruit will be culled during packinghouse standard procedures. As part of the U.S. requirements (7CFR305.9) governing the use of irradiation as a phy tosanitary treatment, APHIS and the NPPO of India must joi ntly develop an operational work plan (OWP). The work plan shall include details of activities such as treatment and inspection of articles that NPPO must perform before fruit depart to the USA. Packing house procedures and phy tosanitary inspection of th e fruit will ensure that all pests of concern not targeted b y irradiation are removed from the pathway

. In addition to the packing house procedures completed in In dia , Customs and Border Protection officials will inspect pomegranate fruit from India at po rts of entry to prevent sy

mptomatic or infested fruit from entering the United States.

### I **II . Conclusion** 

The phy tosanitary requirements described above include treatment of pomegranate fruit from India with irradiation using a minimum absorbed dose of 400 Gy , fruit disinfection , and phy tosanitary inspections at packinghouses for pests not targeted by the irra diation treatment. This risk management document concludes that , b ased on the evaluation of effectiveness of these measures directed against the pests of concern , APHI S finds that the safeguards of 7 CFR § 319.56 and the additional mitigations described h ere will result in the effective removal of the pests of concern i dentified by the pest risk anal ys is for the importation of fresh pomegranate fruit from India into the continental United States including Alaska

.


### I **V. Author s**  **:** Devaiah A. Muruvanda, Ph.D. Senior Risk Manager

- Entomology José R. Hernández, Ph.D. Senior Risk Manager

- Plant Pathology Inder Paul S. Gadh, Ph.D. Senior Risk Manager

– Treatments


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