Project Number: 5302-43000-037-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Nov 13, 2012
End Date: Sep 09, 2015

Objective:
Objective 1: Determine the efficacy of alternative chemicals to methyl bromide for post-harvest commodity fumigation and develop methods to reduce methyl bromide emission. • Sub-objective 1A: Determine efficacy, practicality, and effects on product quality of alternative postharvest fumigants such as phosphine, sulfuryl fluoride, propylene oxide, ozone and others to control key economic pests of perishable fruits, tree nuts, and stored products. • Sub-objective 1B: Search for efficient materials to capture or destroy methyl bromide and other fumigants following postharvest commodity fumigation. • Sub-objective 1C: Develop new quarantine strategies to control regulatory pests in exported hay. Objective 2: Develop and evaluate methods for prediction of damage to tree nuts and improve insecticide timing to control navel orangeworm. • Sub-objective 2A: Predict navel orangeworm damage to pistachios, with an emphasis on nut factors and harvest timing. • Sub-objective 2B: Develop insecticide spray timing recommendations for Madera County, the number 2 pistachio producing county in California, with an emphasis on developing recommendations for high pressure orchards statewide. • Sub-objective 2C: Evaluate the efficacy of the newly registered softer insecticides for almonds and pistachios with a focus on adult activity, contact activity and mechanisms of detoxification. • Sub-objective 2D: Determine responses of male and female navel orangeworm to non-pheromone attractants in black and white traps. • Sub-objective 2E: Evaluate Attract & Kill technology to control navel orangeworm. • Sub-objective 2F. Determine abundance and evaluate monitoring methods for navel orangeworm in walnuts. • Sub-objective 2G: Determine the flight capacity of navel orangeworm.

Approach:
Conduct laboratory and chamber fumigations to determine the efficacy, practicality, and effects on product quality of alternative postharvest fumigants to control key economic pests of perishable fruits, tree nuts, and stored products. Search for efficient materials to capture or destroy methyl bromide and other fumigants following postharvest commodity fumigation. Develop combinations of fumigants with other technologies to reduce the dosage of fumigant required to control or eradicate stored product and quarantine insects in durable and perishable commodities. Develop and evaluate methods to predict damage to tree nuts and improve insecticide timing to control navel orangeworm by better understanding of the ecology of the pest, use of pheromone attractants, and modeling. Develop methods to enhance or maintain quality of perishable commodities and ensure that treatments developed do not reduce quality of perishable commodities or shorten shelf-life.