Abstract
Light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana, is a quarantine pest in most countries and has established in California and, therefore, has potential to affect export of fresh products from infested areas. There is currently lack of effective treatment especially against eggs. Nitric oxide is a recently discovered fumigant for postharvest pest control and is evaluated in laboratory fumigations to determine its efficacy against different life stages of this pest. Small scale fumigations with nitric oxide at 1.0%, 2.0%, 3.0%, and 5.0% concentrations were conducted under ultralow oxygen conditions at 2?C against larvae, pupae, and eggs of light brown apple moth. Treatment times ranged from 4 to 24 h depending on nitric oxide concentration and life stage. Complete control of larvae and pupae was achieved in 8 h fumigation with 2.0% NO. Eggs were successfully controlled in 6, 12, and 24 h fumigations with 5.0%, 3.0%, and 2.0% NO respectively. The study demonstrated that nitric oxide fumigation was effective against all life stages of light brown apple moth and, therefore, has potential to be an alternative treatment to methyl bromide fumigation for postharvest control of light brown apple moth.
Highlights
Light brown apple moth (LBAM), Epiphyas postvittana
Small scale fumigations with nitric oxide at 1.0%, 2.0%, 3.0%, and 5.0% concentrations were conducted under ultralow oxygen conditions at 2 ̊C against larvae, pupae, and eggs of light brown apple moth
The study demonstrated that nitric oxide fumigation was effective against all life stages of light brown apple moth and, has potential to be an alternative treatment to methyl bromide fumigation for postharvest control of light brown apple moth
Summary
Sulfuryl fluoride fumigation is not effective in controlling insect eggs and is phytotoxic to fresh products [11] [12]. Ethyl formate fumigation has been tested and used on selective fresh products for postharvest control of some specific pests. It may have limited applications on fresh products due to its phytotoxicity to most fresh products [13]. New alternatives are needed for postharvest control of many pests including LBAM on international traded fresh products. Nitric oxide was recently discovered to be a potent fumigant against a wide variety of insect pests at various life stages and mites [14] [15] but no detailed toxicity data on LBAM has been reported. LBAM eggs, larvae, and pupae were fumigated with NO to determine an effective treatment against all of the life stages
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