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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 #167508
Title: USING OZONE FOR CONTROLLING BEAN THRIPS IN THE NAVELS OF ORANGES BEING EXPORTED TO AUSTRALIA

Author
item Leesch, James
item Tebbets, John
item Tebbets, Jane

Submitted to: Controlled Atmosphere & Fumigation in Stored Products International Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/19/2004
Publication Date: 7/19/2004
Citation: Leesch, J.G., Tebbets, J.S., Tebbets, J.C. 2004. Using ozone for controlling bean thrips in the navels of oranges being exported to Australia. Controlled Atmosphere & Fumigation in Stored Products International Conference. August 8-13, 2004. Gold Coast, Australia. (in press)

Interpretive Summary: With the uses of methyl bromide becoming fewer as we approach the cutoff year of 2005, new and inventive alternatives to those uses are becoming more important. In 1999, we began to investigate the possibility that ozone could replace some fumigant uses by methyl bromide against postharvest insect pests. We first found that ozone produces mortality throughout the life stages of the insect even though exposure was to the egg or larval stages. We also found that carbon dioxide enhanced the toxic effects of the ozone. We began by attempting to discover the most tolerant stage of a common moth and beetle pest. Using an ozone concentration ranging up to 10,000 ppm (v/v), a carbon dioxide concentration of 5 to 15%, a vacuum of '10 in. Hg, and a 2 hour exposure, we found that with both insects, the egg stage was the most tolerant stage. We then began to look for areas where ozone might be used as a treatment to replace methyl bromide. We investigated the possible use of ozone to kill bean thrips, Caliothrips fasciatus (Pergrande), in the navel of navel oranges where they overwinter and present a problem to the export of California navel oranges to Australia. We have found that an ozone/vacuum/ CO2 killed the overwintering bean thrips hiding in the navel of 'Navel' oranges being exported to Australia. This treatment was found to have no damaging effects on waxed fruit.

Technical Abstract: With the uses of methyl bromide becoming fewer as we approach the cutoff year of 2005, new and inventive alternatives to those uses are becoming more important. In 1999, we began to investigate the possibility that ozone could replace some fumigant uses by methyl bromide against postharvest insect pests. We first found that ozone produces mortality throughout the life stages of the insect even though exposure was to the egg or larval stages. We also found that carbon dioxide enhanced the toxic effects of the ozone. We began by attempting to discover the most tolerant stage of a common moth and beetle pest. Using an ozone concentration ranging up to 10,000 ppm (v/v), a carbon dioxide concentration of 5 to 15%, a vacuum of '10 in. Hg, and a 2 hour exposure, we found that with both insects, the egg stage was the most tolerant stage. We then began to look for areas where ozone might be used as a treatment to replace methyl bromide. We investigated the possible use of ozone to kill bean thrips, Caliothrips fasciatus (Pergrande), in the navel of navel oranges where they overwinter and present a problem to the export of California navel oranges to Australia. We have found that an ozone/vacuum/ CO2 killed the overwintering bean thrips hiding in the navel of 'Navel' oranges being exported to Australia. This treatment was found to have no damaging effects on waxed fruit.