Effects of Low Pressure Treatment on the Mortality of Different Life Stages of Indianmeal moth (Plodia interpunctella) and the Quality of Dried Chinese Jujube.

Juncai Hou,Shaojin Wang,Lushuai Zhao

doi:10.3390/insects9040136

Juncai Hou, Shaojin Wang + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/insects9040136

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Abstract

Low pressure technology is a potential non-chemical method to control insects in agriculture products. The purpose of this study was to determine the tolerance of different life stages of indianmeal moth (Plodia interpunctella) to low pressure and to validate the mortality of P. interpunctella when infesting Chinese jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Miller) using a low pressure system. Results showed that larvae were the most tolerant life stage of P. interpunctella, with a minimum exposure time of 41.4 h at 1.3 kPa and 25 °C to obtain 100% mortality. Pupae were the most susceptible life stage, with a lethal time of 12 h under the above low pressure conditions. The survival ratio of P. interpunctella in jujube decreased with increasing exposure time and reached 0% when the jujubes with P. interpunctella larvae were exposed to low-pressure treatment for 41.6 h at 1.3 kPa and 25 °C. Although the color, moisture, soluble solid, and vitamin C contents were slightly changed, there was no significant quality difference in these factors between control and treated jujubes. The information provided by this study is useful in developing effective non-chemical low-pressure treatments for disinfesting agricultural products.

Highlights

IntroductionThe Chinese jujube is favored by people for its nutrients, especially vitamin C (Vc ), and can be stored for a long time after drying
Chinese jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Miller) is indigenous to China with a history of over 4000 years [1].The Chinese jujube is favored by people for its nutrients, especially vitamin C (Vc ), and can be stored for a long time after drying
The survival ratio of all developmental stages of P. interpunctella decreased with increasing exposure time, and 100% mortality of eggs, larvae, and pupae was obtained at the minimum exposure times of 28.4, 41.4 and 12.9 h, respectively

Summary

Introduction

The Chinese jujube is favored by people for its nutrients, especially vitamin C (Vc ), and can be stored for a long time after drying. Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is one of the main pests of dried jujube during long storage [2] and one of the most serious insect pests in stored products worldwide [3]. It causes damage to an extremely large variety of dry stored products, such as beans, chocolate, dried fruits, grains, and nuts [4]. Methyl bromide (MeBr) and phosphine fumigation are the most popular methods to control these stored insects because they can be applied with low cost, high effect, and broad spectrum [7]. Chemical fumigation may leave harmful residues on stored products and cause negative effects on the environment and human health [8]. There is an urgent need to develop alternative physical methods to replace chemical fumigation for disinfesting jujubes

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