Efficacy of Nitric Oxide Fumigation for Controlling Codling Moth in Apples.

Yong-Biao Liu,Gregory Simmons,Xiangbing Yang

doi:10.3390/insects7040071

Yong-Biao Liu, Gregory Simmons + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/insects7040071

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Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) fumigation under ultralow oxygen (ULO) conditions was studied for its efficacy in controlling codling moth and effects on postharvest quality of apples. NO fumigation was effective against eggs and larvae of different sizes on artificial diet in 48 h treatments. Small larvae were more susceptible to nitric oxide than other stages at 0.5% NO concentration. There were no significant differences among life stages at 1.0% to 2.0% NO concentrations. In 24 h treatments of eggs, 3.0% NO fumigation at 2 °C achieved 100% egg mortality. Two 24 h fumigation treatments of infested apples containing medium and large larvae with 3.0% and 5.0% NO resulted in 98% and 100% mortalities respectively. Sound apples were also fumigated with 5.0% NO for 24 h at 2 °C to determine effects on apple quality. The fumigation treatment was terminated by flushing with nitrogen and had no negative impact on postharvest quality of apples as measured by firmness and color at 2 and 4 weeks after fumigation. This study demonstrated that NO fumigation was effective against codling moth and safe to apple quality, and therefore has potential to become a practical alternative to methyl bromide fumigation for control of codling moth in apples.

Highlights

Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a major pest of pome fruits, stone fruits, and walnuts in the USA
This study demonstrated that Nitric oxide (NO) fumigation was effective against codling moth and safe to apple quality, and has potential to become a practical alternative to methyl bromide fumigation for control of codling moth in apples
Nitric oxide fumigation treatments were effective against both eggs and larvae of codling moth on artificial diet in 48 h treatments at 2 ◦ C (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a major pest of pome fruits, stone fruits, and walnuts in the USA. It is a quarantine pest in some other countries and, a major trade barrier to the export of infested products such as apples to international markets including Japan and the Republic of Korea. A combination treatment of a 55-day cold storage followed by a 2-h fumigation with 56 g/m3 of methyl bromide at 10 ◦ C is needed to achieve complete control of codling moth in apples [1]. Methyl bromide fumigation treatment that controls codling moth eggs can cause unacceptable phytotoxic effects on apples [2]. A recently discovered new fumigant, nitric oxide, may have the potential to control codling moth in apples

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