Abstract
Simple SummaryStored product insects play a major role in postharvest loss. In order to minimize negative effect of conventional insecticides, diatomaceous earth (DE) is one of the alternative solutions for insect control. Despite favorable effect for the environment and human health, DE has some negative side effects on the treated commodity. In order to overcome the limitations of DEs, the aim of this study was to develop natural formulation which would improve the activity of DE. Formulation (labeled as N Form) based on DE enhanced with botanicals and silica gel was tested against three major stored product insect species in wheat and barley under controlled conditions. N Form showed higher efficacy than DE, especially in barley, inducing higher mortality of all three insect species. This study provides new information about the improvement of DE effectiveness thus representing a contribution to further development of natural insecticides as a part of integrated pest management.Diatomaceous earth (DE) has long been known as a potential protectant for stored cereals against various stored product insects. Despite favorable effect for the environment and human health, DE has some negative side effects on the treated commodity. In order to minimize negative response and to improve its efficacy, this paper represents a study of developed natural formulation based on DE SilicoSec® enhanced with botanicals (essential oil lavender, corn oil, and bay leaves dust) and silica gel. The activity of formulation (labeled as N Form) was tested against Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) in seed wheat and barley under controlled conditions. As a reference comparative value, DE SilicoSec® was used. N Form showed higher efficacy than DE, especially in barley at the lowest concentration, inducing higher mortality of all three insect species. The highest average progeny inhibition was recorded in R. dominica population both in seed wheat and barley with 94.9% and 96.3% of inhibition, respectively, followed with S. oryzae and T. castaneum inhibition of 90.6% and 86.1%, respectively, in wheat and 94.9% and 89.7%, respectively, in barley. Results indicate that the developed natural formulation N Form enhanced the activity of DE SilicoSec® using lower amount of DE dust and that it could be successfully implemented for storage of cereals as alternatives to chemical pesticides for stored product insect control.
Highlights
Stored product insects play a major role in postharvest loss, both quantitative and qualitative.it is a great challenge to minimize grain losses during storage and important to use efficient insecticides that are safe for humans and the environment.Insects 2020, 11, 613; doi:10.3390/insects11090613 www.mdpi.com/journal/insectsThe use of diatomaceous earth (DE) provides most of these requirements
The most sensitive species was S. oryzae with the highest mortality reached at concentration of 400 ppm, followed by R. dominica with 100% mortality at concentration of 600 ppm, while mortality of T. castaneum ranged from 76.6% to 96.6% after
Comparing the activity of N form and the activity of DE SilicoSec® per each concentration, there was no statistical difference, a higher activity of N Form was observed against T. castaneum and R. dominica after 7 and 14 days of exposure
Summary
Stored product insects play a major role in postharvest loss, both quantitative and qualitative.it is a great challenge to minimize grain losses during storage and important to use efficient insecticides that are safe for humans and the environment.Insects 2020, 11, 613; doi:10.3390/insects11090613 www.mdpi.com/journal/insectsThe use of diatomaceous earth (DE) provides most of these requirements. Stored product insects play a major role in postharvest loss, both quantitative and qualitative. It is a great challenge to minimize grain losses during storage and important to use efficient insecticides that are safe for humans and the environment. There are some limitations, which impede wider commercial use of DE, such as reduction of bulk density and flowability of grain [4,5], creation of dusty environment, and decrease in efficacy at higher grain moisture contents [6] and variable efficacy based on type of commodity (rice, sorghum, rye, corn, or wheat) [7]. Due to a desiccating mode of action, DEs are slow-acting insecticides. They are less effective against insects developing inside the kernel
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