Imagine a world where your favorite fresh produce is not only free of pests, but also retains its mass without using harmful chemicals. This vision is becoming a reality thanks to new research on sulfur dioxide fumigation. Sulphur dioxide is widely recognized for its anticorrosive properties and is now being explored as an effective fumigant to control pests in fresh fruits and vegetables. This innovative approach promises to meet the growing demand for safer and more effective post-pest control approaches.
Researchers have discovered an innovative solution using sulfur dioxide fumigation to control pests. The method aims to deal with Western flower thrips (WFT), showing encouraging results while maintaining the quality of a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. The study was led by Dr. Yong-Biao of USDA-ARS at the American Center for Agricultural Improvement and Conservation Research, and the study was published in the Journal of Agriculture.
The study highlights that sulfur dioxide fumigation is very effective for WFT, achieving complete death in specific concentrations and durations. For example, fumigation with low sulfur dioxide concentrations over a short duration at low temperatures results in total stab mortality. Dr. Liu and his team fumigated four fresh produce: broccoli, bell pepper, apple and navel. The results show that while sulfur dioxide-rich effects cause severe discoloration in broccoli, it does not significantly affect the visual quality of Bell peppers, navel oranges and yellow apples, although green apples exhibit some dark lentils.
“Western flower thrips are very susceptible to sulfur dioxide fumigation, and our results show that the method can be safely applied to certain fruits and vegetables,” Dr. Liu said. The researchers also pointed out the advantages of sulfur dioxide fumigation at low temperatures, which Reduces the need to increase the temperature of agricultural products, thus making them more effective for after-cooling storage.
The demand for alternative aerosols comes from the gradual disappearance of methyl bromide, which largely stops due to its ozone depletion effect. Currently, phosphoric acid and fluoride fluoride are the main alternatives, but both have obvious disadvantages, including prolonged treatment time and phytotoxicity issues. Commonly considered as the sulfur dioxide fumigation effect of safe (GRAS) compounds, suggesting a greener alternative.
“Sulphur dioxide provides a viable solution for pest control given the increasing restrictions on traditional smog agents.” However, the study also pointed out that sulfur dioxide fumigation may not be suitable for all types of agricultural products. For example, broccoli shows severe discoloration due to high sulfur carbon dioxide adsorption. This suggests that each fresh product requires specific testing to ensure safe and effective pest control.
Dr. Liu Yun’s research provides a framework for future research to explore the potential of sulfur dioxide fumigation on other pests and agricultural products. This innovative approach can benefit the agricultural industry greatly by providing a safer and more effective pest control method.
Journal Reference
Liu, Yang. “The efficacy and phytotoxicity of sulfur dioxide on the rich[Franklieria)afterWesternflowerthrips”Agriculture2024doi:https://doiorg/103390/Agriculture14020305[富蘭克利氏菌）的效果和植物毒性。”農業，2024年，doi：https：//doiorg/103390/Agriculture14020305
About the Author
Dr. Liu
Study entomologist
Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services
Sam Farr American Center for Crop Improvement and Conservation Research
Salinas, California.
Dr. Liu is a research entomologist at USDA-ARS and is committed to developing alternative treatments for methyl bromide fumigation to post-pest control of fresh and stored products. Dr. Liu’s research led to ultra-low oxygen treatment of controls of thrips, bulb mites, spotted mites and black widow spiders on harvested lettuce, flower bulbs, grape plate trough grafting and table grapes, respectively. Dr. Liu developed an oxidized phosphoric acid fumigation method to enhance the toxicity of phosphoric acid to insects. Dr. Liu also found that under ultra-low oxygen conditions, nitric oxide is an effective fumigant that can be used for post-pest control and developed nitric oxide fumigation methods to control pests and microorganisms in fresh and stored products. Currently, Dr. LIU is committed to developing sulfur dioxide fumigation treatments and identifying and developing new fumigants from organic volatile compounds to control post-pest infestations of fresh and stored products. Prior to the addition of USDA-ARS, Dr. Liu conducted extensive research on insect biology, insect resistance, insect pheromone, BT resistance and drug resistance management. Dr. Liu has published more than 100 research articles and patents in his research career.
Education: 1982 Beijing Forestry University B. Agri. M. Sci. In Forestry, University. 1987 British Columbia; PhD College of Entomology. Maine in 1990.
