Efficiency of ozone gas treatment against Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae) (Indianmeal Moth) in hazelnut

Abstract

In this study, ozone gas at different concentrations (16.7, 33.3 and 66.6 mg/L) were exposed to all biological stages (egg, larva, pupa and adult) placed at top and bottom of the hazelnut for various exposure periods (2, 4 and 6 hours). In biological tests conducted in presence of hazelnuts, 100% mortalities of all biological stages of P. interpunctella placed at top of the commodity were obtained at tested ozone concentrations and exposure periods while it was easier to kill the adult and pupa stages that the larva and egg stages. While it was possible to kill 100% of the adults and pupae placed at bottom of the commodity at tested ozone concentrations and exposure periods, 100% mortality of the larvae and eggs were not obtained at any of the ozone treatments. Generally, the mortalities of all life stages of P. interpunctella placed at bottom of the commodity for ozone treatments were lower than those placed at top of the commodity. It was easy to kill the pupae and adults of P. interpunctella placed at bottom of the commodity while the ozone treatments resulted in low mortalities of the egg and larvae placed at bottom of the commodity. Just as 100% mortalities of the larva and adult stages were not obtained even at the highest ozone concentration for the longest exposure period. In conclusion, in this study, it was observed that ozone gas only at high concentrations can control all biological stages of P. interpunctella in hazelnut and therefore could have an alternative potential for methyl bromide in quarantine applications in short application period.

Keywords

• plodia interpunctella
• ozone gas
• hazelnut
• fumigation