Low-Temperature Phosphine Fumigation Is Effective Against Drosophila suzukii in Sweet Cherry

<i>Drosophila suzukii</i>, classified as a quarantine pest in some countries, poses a serious threat to global trade due to its ability to damage berries and cherries. Recent studies indicate that low-temperature phosphine (PH₃) fumigation effectively controls this pest without compromising fresh produce quality. However, the specific protocol for managing <i>D. suzukii</i> larvae in cherries using this method remains underexplored. This study evaluates the efficacy of low-temperature PH₃ fumigation in controlling <i>D. suzukii</i> larvae across three cherry varieties at 3 °C and investigates potential effects on key quality metrics. Tolerance assessments revealed that 3rd instar larvae exhibit the highest resistance to PH₃ among all developmental stages. A concentration of 800 mL/m³ PH₃ for 84 h at 3 °C achieved phytosanitary efficacy for 0.99997 with no negative effect on the quality attributes of the tested cherry varieties. These results support low-temperature PH₃ fumigation as a viable postharvest treatment for <i>D. suzukii</i> management in sweet cherries.