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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #368386
Research Project: Methyl Bromide Replacement: Post-harvest Treatment of Perishable Commodities

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: Nitric oxide fumigation for postharvest control of pests and pathogens

Author
item Liu, Yong Biao
item OH, SOOKYUNG - University Of California
item YANG, XIANGBING - University Of California

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/24/2019
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) was discovered to be a potent fumigant under ultralow oxygen condition for postharvest pest control in 2013. Many studies since then have been conducted to develop treatments against various insects and mites, evaluate effects of NO fumigation on postharvest quality of fresh products, and determine residues of NO fumigation on fresh products. NO fumigation was effective in controlling all 14 insects and mite species tested to date. NO fumigation, when terminated properly with N2 flush, did not cause injury to any fresh products tested to date in small-scale tests, and was found to maintain postharvest quality of strawberries better as compared with controls. Nitrate and nitrite residues from NO fumigation terminated with a N2 flush were not significantly higher than their levels on controls in tests of 20 fresh fruit and vegetable species, and nine stored grain and nut products. NO fumigation was found to inhibit storage molds, e.g., Aspergillus flavus germination and growth, on stored products. NO fumigation contains NO and NO2, which alone completely controlled fungi and bacteria on stored almonds. NO fumigation, therefore, has potential to control pests as well as spoilage microorganisms on fresh and stored products.