Location: Commodity Protection and Quality Research
Project Number: 2034-43000-043-059-T
Project Type: Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jun 1, 2023
End Date: Aug 31, 2024
Objective:
Develop novel postharvest treatments, methods for residue analysis, and techniques to advance the use of propylene oxide in commercial settings.
Approach:
Utilize a cooperative effort between USDA-ARS, industry, and foreign counterparts to more effectively use propylene oxide to control insect and microbiological pests. Particular attention will be paid to the development of propylene oxide for applications at normal atmospheric pressures (NAP) ncluding the treatment of fresh fruit and durables. Initial research involves applications of Propoxide 892 (44.8 gm-3 applied PPO maximum, 48 h, > 40F, NAP), in concert with sulfuryl fluoride, to control pests of tree nuts (almonds & walnuts), dried fruit (figs & prunes), cocoa, and grains (corn and rice). ARS will develop data on sorption kinetics as related to Ct exposures and associated insecticidal efficacy, antimicrobial activity (plant pathogens >>> human), and chemical residues (ingestion and inhalation).
ARS will also advance “total utilization” applications of propylene oxide and Propoxide 892 in vacuo and NAP respectively, for fresh fruit (citrus, strawberries, table grapes) at harvest temperature and storage temperature. ARS will also develop data on sorption kinetics as related to Ct exposures and associated insecticidal efficacy, antimicrobial activity (plant pathogens >>> human), and chemical residues (ingestion and inhalation). Finally, ARS will work with industry to transfer results to industry, USEPA, and USDA APHIS.
