Control of bean thrips in navel oranges using ethyl formate fumigation for export to Australia Beth Mitcham , Veronique Bikoba Bill Biasi, and Francine Pupin Department of Plant Sciences University of California, Davis Joseph Morse, UC Riverside In cooperation with: Kathie Blyskal and Alfred Hanson, Sunkist Growers The Linde Group

Ethyl Formate Natural plant volatile Registered for use in Australia and New Zealand by Linde Corporation as VapormateTM in formulation with CO2 Previously registered in US for control of insect pests in raisins, but registration expired in the 1980’s Registration is being pursued by Linde Corporation

VapormateTM Fumigation Laboratory System for VapormateTM Fumigation

Laboratory Fumigation System

Mortality of Bean Thrips after 1 hour VapormateTM Fumigation of Navel Oranges Lab Tests Treatment Rep Conc. EF (%) Untreated Control Vapormate 1 1.5% n =66 100% n = 177 2 0% n = 50 n = 115 3 14.5% n = 62 n = 320

Lab Test Methods 1 hour fumigation with 1% Vapormate at 50°F Evaluations: Initial after 3 wks storage @ 41°F after 5 days @ 55°F after 2 days @ 68°F

Laboratory Test

Laboratory Test 1=none; 2=very slight; 3= slight damage; 4= moderate damage

No damage (1) Very slight damage (2) Slight damage (3) Moderate damage (4) Severe damage (5) Very severe damage (6)

Orange Cove/Sanger Navels-Lab Quality Evaluated after 3 wks @ 41F plus 5 days @ 55F & 2 days @ 68F Untreated Control Fumigate Before Storage Fumigate After Storage

Quality Evaluated after 3 wks @ 41F Gillete Navels-Lab Quality Evaluated after 3 wks @ 41F plus 5 days @ 55F & 2 days @ 68F Untreated Control Fumigate Before Storage Fumigate After Storage

Harding & Legget Navels-Lab Quality Evaluated after 3 wks @ 41F plus 5 days @ 55F & 2 days @ 68F Untreated Control Fumigate Before Storage Fumigate After Storage

Small Degreening Rooms at Sunkist Growers

Semi-Commercial Test Method 1% Vapormate for 1 hour at 50°F Evaluations: Initial after 3 wks storage @ 41°F after 5 days @ 55°F after 2 days @ 68°F

Mortality of Bean Thrips after 1 hour Fumigation with VapormateTM Sunkist Test Conc. EF (%) Untreated Control Vapormate 1 13.7% n = 145 100% n = 417

Sunkist Test

Sunkist Test 1=none; 2=very slight; 3= slight damage; 4= moderate damage

Villa Park – Semi-Commercial Test Quality Evaluated after 3 wks @ 41F plus 5 days @ 55F & 2 days @ 68F Untreated Control Fumigate Before Storage Fumigate After Storage

San Antonio – Semi-Commercial Test Quality Evaluated after 3 wks @ 41F plus 5 days @ 55F & 2 days @ 68F Untreated Control Fumigate Before Storage Fumigate After Storage

Golden Valley – Semi-Commercial Test Quality Evaluated after 3 wks @ 41F plus 5 days @ 55F & 2 days @ 68F Untreated Control Fumigate Before Storage Fumigate After Storage

Mandarin Lab Test Methods to Determine Fruit Tolerance 1 hour fumigation with 1.5% Vapormate at 50°F 8 replications of control and 16 replications for Vapormate trt. 3 weeks shelf life at 68°F with weekly visual evaluation

Tolerance to Vapormate (1.5%) W. Murcott Mandarin Tolerance to Vapormate (1.5%)

Year 3 Commercial trials Treat fruit in packed boxes with static fumigation in marine container Confirm bean thrips mortality with large number of insects Confirm fruit tolerance with many grower sources Develop mortality curves for adult bean thrips Prepare report for APHIS

Vapormate Delivery System

Potential for Vapormate Needs to be registered in U.S. or Needs to be approved for bean thrips control in Australia and New Zealand Already registered there Develop efficacy data for review True of other alternative fumigants as well. GRAS compound Effective against Light Brown Apple Moth

Mortality of the California Red Scale (Aonidiella aurantii) 3 weeks after a 3-hour Fumigation with Ethyl Formate EF concentration (%) Instar 0.75% 1.5% 3.0% First 99.8 100 Second 98.8 Third 99.9 Mature third 99.5 Y. Aharoni, Y. Nitzan, and A. Copel. (1987) Tropical Science (27) 155-157.

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