Effects of ozone concentrations and exposure times on the mortality of the Indian meal moth in different amounts of dried fig fruits

The larva of Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), is one of the most damaging pests of such stored products as dried fig (Ficus carica ‘Sabz’) fruits.
Ozone was applied as a gas at three concentrations (0, 33, and 50 ppm) for four fumigation periods (24, 48, 72, and 96 h) on the different stages of P. interpunctella in two amounts (20 and 500 kg) of dried fig fruits with three replications.
So far, ozone experiments have been applied to a small amount of other stored products or it was tested on P. interpunctella in the laboratory.
The ozone effects were evaluated on the stored pests in a large amount of stored dried figs for the first time.
The results indicated that by increasing exposure time (fumigation periods), the rate of mortality increased for all tested stages.
This study showed that 72 and 96 h exposure times were more effective than other times.
Two amounts of dried fig fruits had the same results on mortality because of gas distribution in the different parts of large boxes.
The fumigation period is reduced with increasing gas concentration.
The effect of ozone on the skin color of dried fig fruits was investigated, which did not observe any significant changes.

I International Conference and X National Horticultural Science Congress of Iran (IrHC2017)

H. Zare, S.V. Attaran, A.A. Heidarian

larva, pest, skin color, stored products

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1315.67