Effects of electron-beam irradiation on the control of bacterium and insect pests in warehoused tobacco and on tobacco quality

Abstract

The effects of 200 keV and 10 MeV electron-irradiation accelerators on the eradication of lasioderma serricorne and bacteria in tobacco and on the quality of tobacco leaf are investigated. By controlling the parameters of electron-beam irradiation, all lasioderma serricorne and bacteria inside tobacco can be eradicated efficiently and rapidly. The irradiated tobacco exhibits good retention based on a validation experiment, and no colonies are detected within 38 d. The irradiation has no significant effects on the basic physical and chemical indexes or the organic-acid and mineral-element contents of tobacco. Excessive energy levels reduce the volatilization loss of neophytadiene in tobacco from 589.91 to 418.64 μg/g, which indicates that the aroma quality of the tobacco deteriorates to a certain extent. Fluka simulation results show that a 3 MeV electron beam is sufficient to penetrate a full box of stored tobacco at existing tobacco stacking densities.

Keywords

• tobacco storage
• irradiation sterilization
• irradiation insecticide
• lasioderma serricorne
• tobacco quality