title: Ethyl Formate: A Potential Disinfestation Treatment for Eucalyptus Weevil (Gonipterus platensis) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Apples.
abstract: Export of Pink Lady apples from Australia has been significantly affected by infestations of adult eucalyptus weevils (Gonipterus platensis Marelli). These weevils cling tenaciously to the pedicel of apple fruit when selecting overwintering sites. As a result, apples infested with live G. platensis adults lead to rejection for export. Since the Montreal Protocol restricted use of methyl bromide as postharvest treatment, it was necessary to consider alternative safer fumigants for disinfestation of eucalyptus weevil. Laboratory experiments were conducted using concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, and 80 mg/liter of ethyl formate. Complete control (100% mortality) was achieved at 25-30 mg/liter of ethyl formate at 22-24°C for 24-h exposure without apples. However, with 90-95% of the volume full of apples, complete control was achieved at 40 mg/liter of ethyl formate at 22-24°C for 24-h exposure. No phytotoxicity was observed and after one day aeration, residue of ethyl formate declined to natural levels (0.05-0.2 mg/kg). Five ethyl formate field trials were conducted in cool storages (capacity from 250-900 tons) and 100% kill of eucalyptus weevils were achieved at 50-55 mg/liter at 7-10°C for 24 h. Ethyl formate has great potential for preshipment treatment of apples. Its use is considerably cheaper and safer than already existing fumigants like methyl bromide and phosphine.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South St., Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia. Cooperative Research Centre National Plant Biosecurity, GPO Box 5012, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia.
authors.forename: Manjree
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South St., Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia. Cooperative Research Centre National Plant Biosecurity, GPO Box 5012, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, 3 Baron Hay Court South Perth, WA 6151, Australia. y.ren@murdoch.edu.au.
authors.forename: Yonglin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South St., Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia. Cooperative Research Centre National Plant Biosecurity, GPO Box 5012, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, Locked Bag 7, Manjimup, WA 6258, Australia.
authors.forename: Stewart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Learmonth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016266:Food Parasitology; D005563:Formic Acid Esters / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D005651:Fumigation; D027845:Malus / Q000187:drug effects; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D048889:Weevils
chemical_list: D005563:Formic Acid Esters; D010573:Pesticide Residues; C510888:ethyl formate
keywords: apple; ethyl formate; eucalyptus weevil; fumigant; fumigation