Location: Commodity Protection and Quality Research
Project Number: 2034-43000-043-082-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: May 1, 2025
End Date: Apr 30, 2026
Objective:
The goal of this project is to develop and implement efficient, economical, and environmentally responsible strategies to control Carpophilus truncatus in almond stockpiles.
Approach:
Utilize a cooperative effort between USDA-ARS, USDA-APHIS, industry, and foreign counterparts. In general, we will develop postharvest fumigations. The research will be conducted in sequential phases. Phase 1, Objective 1 includes basic biology to understand chronology of development on stockpiles a function of season, the evaluation of egg laying and pupation behaviors within a stockpile, the imaging of egg morphology in the context of fumigation efficacy, and evaluating incidence of the pest within a survey of stockpiles.
Phase 2, Objective 2 involves conduct lab-scale exploratory postharvest fumigations to establish exposure-mortality responses of metal phosphides, cylinderized phosphine, and sulfuryl fluoride. Phosphine resistance will also be evaluated in cultured populations from the survey. Findings will b e presented in written research reports and industry guidelines and/or as requested and provide to industry, USDA-APHIS, USDA-TASC, and foreign counterparts.
