Control of One of the Vital Stored Date Insects, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), by Using Ozone Gas.

Zinhoum, Rasha A.; M., El-Shafei, W. K.

doi:10.21608/eajbsf.2019.74450

Control of One of the Vital Stored Date Insects, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), by Using Ozone Gas.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Plant Prot. Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Center (ARC), Dokki, Giza, Egypt

² Dep.of Date Palm Pests and Diseases, Central Lab. for Date Palm, Agricultural Research Center ARC, Giza, Egypt.

10.21608/eajbsf.2019.74450

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate ozone (O3) technology as management tools to control all life stages of Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (eggs, larvae, and pupae) infesting stored date and its effect on some larval enzymes activity and the quality of date fruits. Three concentration of ozone gas 100, 300 and 500 (ppm) has been tested against P, interpunctella life stages (eggs, larvae, and pupae) at various exposure times, which were ranged from 15 to 150 minutes. Results revealed that the mortality of tested life stages increased by increasing the exposure time in each ozone concentration. The required exposure time to reach 100 % mortality of the insect stages decreased by increasing the ozone con. from 100 to 500 (ppm). Corrected egg mortality reached 100% after 150 min. from exposure to 500 ppm ozone. The corrected second instar larval mortality recorded 100 % after 150 and 90 min. from exposure to 300 and 500-ppm ozone con. respectively. While the corrected mortality of 4^th instar larvae reached 100 % after 150 and 120 min. of exposure to 300 and 500-ppm ozone con. respectively. On the other hand, pupal corrected mortality was 100 % just when its exposure to 500 ppm for 150 min. Results showed that the egg was the most tolerant stage to the ozone gas while the 2^nd larval instar was the most susceptible one. On the other hands, 4^th larval instar was more susceptible than the pupa. Also, data showed that ozone seemed to have no effect on tested chemical contents of dates fruits. In addition, results revealed that the larval rate of respiration was affected by ozone gas.

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