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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Commodity Protection and Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #58215

Title: BEYOND METHYL BROMIDE: NON-CHEMICAL CONTROL METHODS FOR POSTHARVEST INSECT PESTS OF WALNUTS

Author
item Johnson, Judy
item Soderstrom, Edwin
item Curtis, Charles
item VAIL, PATRICK - 5302-15-65

Submitted to: Australian Nutgrower
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/6/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Current postharvest insect control for dried fruits and nuts depends on the use of methyl bromide and phosphine. Toxicological, environmental, and regulatory concerns, plus possible pest resistance, may limit future use of these fumigants. No single non-chemical method provides an economical alternative to fumigation throughout the postharvest system. Our project integrates short-term disinfestation methods with long-term protective techniques to overcome the limitations of individual alternatives for walnuts. An initial treatment of 0.4% O2 for 6 days was followed by one of three long-term treatments: low temperature storage (8-11C), maintenance controlled atmosphere (5% O2), or a protective Indianmeal moth granulosis treatment. Twenty-five-day old navel orangeworm (fifth instar larvae and young pupae) were used as test insects for the initial disinfestation treatment. Five mated adult Indianmeal moths were added to the long-term treatment rooms each week. No navel orangeworm survived exposure to the initial 0.4% O2 treatment; survival in untreated walnuts was about 80%. No detectable damage due to Indianmeal moth was found in any of the long-term treatments even after 12 weeks. In contrast, ca. 75% of the untreated nuts showed damage by Indianmeal moth after 12 weeks in storage. High numbers of moths were caught in pheromone traps in the untreated room 6 weeks after the beginning of the long-term test. No Indianmeal moths were caught in either the low temperature or the CA treatments. Low numbers of moths (<12/week) were caught in the GV treatment. The results of our initial tests are encouraging; the initial CA treatment proved effective in disinfesting walnuts of navel orangeworm, and all three protective treatments kept Indianmeal moth populations at acceptable levels.