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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #287299

Title: Response of light brown apple moth to oxygenated phosphine fumigation

Author
item Liu, Samuel
item Liu, Yong Biao
item SIMMONS, GREGORY - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/6/2012
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The light brown apple moth (LBAM), Epiphyas postvittana (Walker), poses a serious threat to California agriculture and is currently quarantined by several major trading partners. Fumigation is the only tool to assure pest-free postharvest vegetable and fruit products. However, current fumigants for insect control on fresh commodities are not available or cause damage to them. Phosphine fumigation is an alternative but slow and less effective against insects. In an effort to determine the effect of LBAM to oxygenated phosphine as a potential alternative, the response of oxygenated (60%) phosphine toward LBAM eggs was evaluated in laboratory fumigation jars. LBAM eggs were selected to be tested because they are more tolerant of phosphine than adults and larvae. Fumigation with oxygenated phosphine at 1000ppm and 2ºC provided complete control of LBAM egg hatching in fumigation jars. The results indicated that oxygenated phosphine fumigation is effective to control LBAM eggs and could be developed for commercial use.