Edible biopolymer films were developed from the exopolysaccharides (EPS) extracted from Weissella confusa 113-2. The optimum composition for film formation was determined using the response surface analysis with the explanatory variables of the EPS (0.5-5.5%) and glycerol (0.5-5.5%) concentrations and the response variable of film elastic modulus (EM). The mass ratio of distilled water to solids was set constant (14:1). Tensile strength (TS), percentage elongation at break (%E), EM, water vapor permeability (WVP) of EPS films were evaluated. The glass transition temperatures of the films were also determined by a dynamic mechanical analysis. The optimum mass ratio of EPS to glycerol was 0.754:0.375. The WVP, TS, %E, and EM of the film under the optimal composition were 3.53±0.21 g·mm/kPa·h·m2, 7.03±0.49 MPa, 84.82±12.31%, and 62.03±6.93 MPa, respectively. The glass transition temperature varied from 54 to 83 °C. The EPS film has the potential to be applied to food products as an edible film with physical and barrier properties comparable to other biopolymer edible films.

One hundred seven plant essential oils were tested for insecticidal activities against Bemisia tabaci B and Q biotype adults, using the fumigation and direct spray methods. In the fumigation assay with the Q biotype adults, garlic oil was the most toxic (1.5×10-3 μl/cm3) on the basis of the LC50 value. Clove leaf, thyme, oregano (origanum), clove bud, savory, cinnamon bark, dabana, vetiver haiti and catnip essential oils also gave potent toxicity with the range of 1.7 to 4.5×10-3 μl/cm3 of LC50 values. These essential oils showed similar strong toxicity against B biotype. Based on the results obtained from fumigation test, nine plant essential oils were selected for the direct spray application at three concentrations (0.5, 0.1 and 0.02%). A litter difference was obtained between B and Q types in mortality to the tested oils. At the 0.5% concentration, they gave considerable mortality of 76 to 100%. At 0.1%, only garlic essential oil produced 96 to 100% mortality, but the others showed less than 76% mortality. Several plant essential oils appear to be candidates for the control of B. tabaci.