January 02, 2024 | Insects |
A study conducted by the Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Kyungpook National University, and the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency explored the use of ethyl formate (EF) as an alternative to methyl bromide for postharvest fumigation of the pineapple mealybug, Dysmicoccus brevipes. This pest poses a significant threat to pineapple production and trade.
The research evaluated EF fumigation at 8°C for 4 hours, finding that the lethal concentration × time (LCt99) necessary to achieve 99% mortality of D. brevipes nymphs and adults was 64.2 and 134.8 g h/m³, respectively. Sorption trials with different pineapple loading ratios indicated that a loading ratio below 30% is needed for effective control. In larger-scale trials, EF fumigation at 70 g/m³ with a 20% pineapple loading ratio resulted in complete pest control.
Additionally, the study found no significant differences in the quality of treated pineapples, including hue, sugar content, firmness, and weight loss, when compared to untreated fruit. These findings suggest that EF is a promising alternative to methyl bromide for the postharvest disinfection of D. brevipes in pineapples, providing an effective and less harmful treatment method. (Could this photo be replaced by the one that shows infection of mealy bugs on pineapple?)
