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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #329658
Research Project: Methyl Bromide Replacement: Post-harvest Treatment of Perishable Commodities

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: Efficacy and safety of nitric oxide fumigation for controlling codling moth in apples

Author
item Liu, Yong Biao
item YANG, XIANGBING - University Of California
item SIMMONS, GREGORY - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

Submitted to: Insects
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/29/2016
Publication Date: 12/2/2016
Citation: Liu, Y.-B., Yang, X., Simmons, G. 2016. Efficacy and safety of nitric oxide fumigation for controlling codling moth in apples. Insects. 7:71. doi: 10.3390/insects7040071.

Interpretive Summary: Nitric oxide is a newly discovered fumigant for postharvest pest control. In this paper, nitric oxide fumigation was demonstrated to be effective against codling moth on artificial diet and in infested apples. Complete control of medium and large larvae in apples was achieved with a 24h fumigation treatment with 5% nitric oxide at 2°C. The treatment was also tested on sound apples and the fumigation was terminated by flushing with nitrogen. The treatment was safe to apple quality as it did not cause any injuries or stains. Fumigated apples and non-treated controls were also evaluated for color and firmness 2 and 4 weeks after post-treatment cold storage. Apples from the treatment actually were firmer and retain color better than the controls, suggesting that nitric oxide fumigation helped preserving postharvest quality of apples. The study showed that nitric oxide fumigation has the potential for controlling codling moth in apples.

Technical Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) fumigation under ultralow oxygen (ULO) conditions was studied for its efficacy in controlling codling moth and effects on postharvest quality of apples. NO fumigation was effective against eggs and larvae of different sizes on artificial diet in 48 h treatments. Small larvae were more susceptible to nitric oxide than other stages at 0.5% NO concentration. There were no significant differences among life stages at 1% to 2% NO concentrations. In 24 h treatments of eggs, 3% NO fumigation at 2°C achieved 100% egg mortality. Two 24 h fumigation treatments of infested apples containing medium and large larvae with 3% and 5% NO resulted in 98% and 100% mortalities respectively. Sound apples were also fumigated with 5% NO for 24 h at 2°C to determine effects on apple quality. The fumigation treatment was terminated by flushing with nitrogen and had no negative impact on postharvest quality of apples as measured by firmness and color at 2 and 4 weeks after fumigation. This study indicated that NO fumigation was effective against codling moth and safe to apple quality. NO fumigation has potential to become a practical alternative to methyl bromide fumigation for control of codling moth in apples.