Ethyl Formate Fumigation for Controlling Two Major Aphid Pests, Aphis spiraecola and Aphis gossypii , on Passion Fruit, from Cultivation to Post-Harvest Storage.

Yang, Jeong Oh; Kim, Dongbin; Lee, Young Su; Hong, Ki-Jeong; Lee, Byung-Ho; Park, Min-Goo

Simple Summary: In South Korea, the increase in growing tropical and subtropical crops due to climate change and consumer demand has brought along a challenge: invasive insect pests damaging these fruits. To address this issue, we explored using ethyl formate (EF) fumigation as a safer alternative to traditional methods. We focused on two types of aphids, common pests in the trade of fresh produce. We found that EF effectively controlled aphids across different stages of fruit cultivation and post-harvest storage, achieving 100% mortality without harming the plants. Importantly, EF levels rapidly decreased after fumigation, ensuring safety. These findings suggest that EF fumigation could be a valuable solution for protecting crops from pests in a changing climate. This research provides farmers and policymakers with a safer and more sustainable method for pest control in greenhouse and post-harvest storage, ensuring the availability and quality of tropical fruits for consumers while reducing environmental risks associated with traditional pesticides. Tropical and subtropical crops are being increasingly cultivated in South Korea, leading to an increase in damage by exotic insect pests. Consequently, ethyl formate (EF) is currently being considered for quarantine and pre-shipment fumigation. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of EF fumigation for controlling Aphis spiraecola Patch and Aphis gossypii Glover, two representative quarantine pests on passion fruit ("Pink Bourbon") during greenhouse cultivation and post-harvest storage. The efficacy of EF against both aphids in terms of the lethal concentration causing 50% mortality (LCt50%) and LCt99% was 1.36–2.61 g h/m3 and 3.73–7.55 g h/m3 under greenhouse conditions (23 °C), and 1.37–2.02 g h/m3 and 3.80–14.59 g h/m3 post-harvest (5 °C), respectively. EF at 4 g/m3 for 4 h resulted in 100% mortality of A. spiraecola, which was more resistant to EF, without causing phytotoxic damage to the trees in a 340 m3 greenhouse. Post-harvest fruit fumigation at 10 g/m3 for 4 h in a mid-size (0.8 m3) fumigation chamber resulted in complete disinfection. Moreover, the EF level decreased below the EF threshold within 10 min after natural ventilation in the greenhouse. Therefore, our results suggest EF fumigation as an effective method for controlling A. spiraecola and A. gossypii.

SOUTH Korea; COTTON aphid; FUMIGATION; PASSION fruit; INTRODUCED insects; PESTS; APHIDS

Insects (2075-4450), 2024, Vol 15, Issue 6, p386

2075-4450

Academic Journal

10.3390/insects15060386