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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #388819
Research Project: Mitigation of Invasive Pest Threats to U.S. Subtropical Agriculture

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: Anisole fumigation for control of postharvest insect pests

Author
item Yang, Xiangbing
item Liu, Yong Biao
item Kendra, Paul

Submitted to: Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Research Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/29/2021
Publication Date: 11/17/2021
Citation: Yang, X., Liu, Y-B, and Kendra, P.E. Kendra. 2021. Anisole fumigation for control of postharvest insect pests. MBAO: Fumigation and Alternatives for Production, Storage and Trade Conference, Virtual Annual meeting of Methyl Bromide Alternatives Outreach. Pp: 18-1. November 15-17, 2021. (http://mbao.org)

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Anisole (methoxybenzene) is an organic volatile compound that can be found in many plants including aniseed, Pimpinella anisum L. (Umbelliferae), and Chinese woundwort, Stachys riederi var. japonica (Lamiaceae). In this study, we evaluated anisole as a potential fumigant for controlling various insect pests including stored product pests like granary weevil, rice weevil, and confused flour beetle, and fresh product pests like western flower thrips (WFT), and Caribbean fruit fly in small-scale laboratory tests. Results showed that anisole fumigations were effective against all tested pests. At 100 ul/L, anisole fumigation completely controlled granary weevil and rice weevil in 24 and 16 h, respectively. At 150 ul/L, complete control of the two pests was achieved in 16 and 8 h, respectively. Confused flour beetle was completely controlled in 16 and 8 h at 400 and 600 ul/L respectively. Complete control of WFT was achieved in 8 and 6 h fumigations at doses of 150 and 300 ul/L, respectively. Anisole fumigation also achieved 100% mortality of all life stages of Caribbean fruit fly at desired dose-dependent fumigation treatments. The median lethal time (LT50) of anisole fumigation at 50 ul/L were 0.6 and 0.5 h for granary weevil and rice weevil, respectively. LT50 for confused flour beetle at 600 ul/L was 2.9 h. In a 16 h confirmatory anisole fumigation treatment in a mini silo, complete control of rice weevil was achieved at different depths of corn. This study showed that anisole fumigation is effective against multiple insect species and, therefore, has potential as an environmentally friendly, alternative fumigant for postharvest pest control.