Journal of Applied Entomology (2020) 144, 191-200

Xiangbing Yang, Yong-Biao Liu, Yan Feng and Aijun Zhang (2020)
Methyl benzoate fumigation for control of post-harvest pests and its effects on apple quality
Journal of Applied Entomology 144 (3), 191-200
Abstract: Methyl benzoate is a newly discovered natural insecticide. In this study, we evaluated methyl benzoate as a potential fumigant for controlling four pests including western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis , lettuce aphid, Nasonovia ribisnigri , rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae , and bulb mites, Rhizoglyphus spp., at different temperatures and effects on post-harvest quality of apples. Methyl benzoate fumigations were effective against all four pests. Complete control of WFT and lettuce aphid was both achieved in 8, 16 and 24 hr at 25, 13 and 2°C, respectively. For rice weevil, complete control was achieved in 16 and 72 hr with and without rice at 25°C, respectively. Complete control of bulb mites was achieved in 64 hr at 25°C on peanut. In addition, a 24 hr methyl benzoate fumigation at 2°C had complete control of WFT but had no negative impact on visual quality of apples of three varieties 4 weeks after fumigation. These results suggest that methyl benzoate fumigation has potential to be an alternative treatment to methyl bromide fumigation, which has been phased out, for post-harvest pest control for stored products and may also have potential to control other pests on fresh products.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Xiang-Bing Yang, Yong-Biao Liu, Aijun Zhang

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sitophilus oryzae	Stored grain
	Frankliniella occidentalis	Apple (Malus)
	Rhizoglyphus (genus)	Groundnut/peanut (Arachis hypogaea)
	Nasonovia ribisnigri	Apple (Malus)