It is a challenge to develop a completely satisfactory alternative for methyl bromide fumigation in efficacy, low cost and ease of use. In addition, there is a growing demand to decrease the postharvest use of chemicals to control pathogens and insects. Hot water treatments could provide a physical treatment if a combination of time and temperature could be found to achieve the desired control without significant quality loss in the commodity.

Hot Water Studies

Use of hot water treatment to control codling moths in harvested California Bing sweet cherries (pdf)
Xuqiao Feng, James D. Hansen, Bill Biasi, Juming Tang and Elizabeth J. Mitcham
2003
California Bing sweet cherries were treated with hot water baths followed by hydrocooling. The fruit were then stored to simulate either air shipment or sea shipment. Cherries infested with codling moth larvae were subjected to similar treatments. Results indicated that using hot water baths as a quarantine treatment for codling moths on sweet cherries may be feasible if fruit are air shipped.