This study was done to evaluate the efficacy of Vapormate (ethyl formate 16.7 % + CO2) as an methyl bromide-alternative fumigant. Some insect pests and mites were found under calyx of sweet persimmon fruits, including grape-myrtle scale, two-spotted spider mite, Amblyseius eharai. Vapormate fumigation was equally toxic to miticide- susceptible and -resistant T. urticae showing 100 % mortality at higher concentration than 146.7 and 211.0 mg/L, respectively. In persimmon-filled desiccator, summer and overwintering types of T. urticae showed 100 % mortality at higher concentration than 163.7 and 265.8 mg/L, respectively. Sweet persimmon damage from vapormate fumigation was not shown by the days after treatment. Tolerance of each live stage of grape-myrtle scale was in descending order: egg < nymph < adult. EF 141.5 mg h L-1 for 6 h at 5 ℃ killed 100 % of the larvae of D. punctiferalis.
The final scaled-up fumigation confirmed the efficacy of EF to target pests and non-phytotoxicity on persimmons. In conclusion, EF may become a MB alternative fumigant for sweet persimmon, and the LC99 values of EF may be used to practical applications to all kinds of insects and mites on harvested sweet persimmon.