To replace hazardous methyl bromide (MB) post-fumigation on imported fruits, due to insufficient ventilation process in industrial practice, alternative fumigation with liquid ethyl formate (EF) with N2 application, which is multi benefits to safe to workplace and environment, has been developed by APQA. Although EF was found to be shown proven efficacy to invasive external feeders such as mealybugs and scales on export and imported fruits and vegetables, there was still some conflicts to accept one of the phytosanitary disinfestation method somewhere because of on reliable and confirmative studies on between MB and EF in terms of efficacy to mealybugs on perishable commodities. In here, we evaluated comparative efficacy of EF and MB to target citrus mealybug, which was seems to be hard control pest, based on the current disinfestation guideline of them in Korea. The potential benefits of using liquid ethyl formate (EF) for future quarantine use could provide for safer workplace involved on and post-fumigation such as cold and packing storages, cost-effectiveness as well as meet the environmental friendly solution.

Stored grain pests can cause reduction of grain quantity, quality, commercial value and germination rate. Susceptibility of three fumigants, methyl bromide, ethyl formate and phosphine, were assessed on Tribolium castaneum, which is an important stored grain pest. On susceptible insects, LCT50 of phosphine was 0.654mg h/L for egg, 0.127mg h/L for late larvae, 0.105mg h/L for pupae and 0.048mg h/L for adult stage, respectively. LCT50 of methyl bromide was 33.193mg h/L for egg, 14.585mg h/L for late larvae, 8.616mg h/L for pupae and 11.967mg h/L for adult stage, respectively. LCT50 of ethyl formate were 25.165mg h/L for egg, 80.912mg h/L for late larvae, 176.326mg h/L for pupae and 68.578mg h/L for adult stage, respectively. On resistant insects, LCT50 of phosphine were 82.325mg h/L for egg, 33.315mg h/L for late larvae, 73.546mg h/L for pupae and 55.707mg h/L for adult stage, respectively. LCT50 of methyl bromide were 19.250mg h/L for egg, 43.413mg h/L for late larvae, 76.842mg h/L for pupae and 19.387mg h/L for adult stage, respectively. LCT50 of ethyl formate were 87.552mg h/L for egg, 113.457mg h/L for late larvae, 200.122mg h/L for pupae and 85.394mg h/L for adult stage, respectively.

수출입 묘목류에 있어서 깍지벌레류는 주요한 해충으로 다양한 묘목류에서 검출되고 있다. 깍지벌레류 중 우리나라의 소나무에 피해를 주고 있는 소나무굴깍지벌레는 연 2회 발생하는 해충으로 1세대는 4월, 2세대는 8월에 발생하여 소나무 잎에 피해를 준다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 수출입 묘목류에서 검출되는 깍지벌레류의 소독효과에 대한 정보를 제공하기 위하여 포스핀과 에틸포메이트 그리고 메틸브로마이드를 이용하여 소나무굴깍지벌레를 대상으로 훈증효과를 검정하였다. 포스핀을 소나무굴깍지벌레 알을 대상으로 0.06 mg/L 이상 처리시 난부화억제율은 100%였으며, 에틸포메이트 처리의 경우 성충은 2.6 mg/L, 알은 7.4 mg/L에서 100% 살충활성을 보였다. 그리고 메틸브로마이드를 40 g/㎥으로 2시간 훈증처리시 소나무굴깍지벌레 성충은 100% 치사하였으며, 알의 경우 26.0 mg/L을 처리했을 때 100%부화억제 효과를 보였다.

The current protocols of methyl bromide (MeBr) fumigation on imported nursery plants, which are seriously infested with quarantine mealy bugs and scales, could be reevaluated because there were no limited uses of loading ratio, packing types etc. Another emerging issues is that the workplace health issues on MeBr fumigation are related with poor ventilation etc as well as well-known phytotoxic damages on them. In previous report, we have evaluated the efficacies of ethyl formate (EF) and phosphine (PH3) on different types of mealybugs. Herein, the phytotoxic damages of EF and PH3 on Alocasia, Sansevieria, Cactaceae and Croton genera were evaluated in terms of chlorophyll contents, color changes etc. This study showed that EF and PH3 fumigation on imported plants could be applicable to replacement of MeBr with further confirmation trials.

Methyl bromide (MeBr) is well-known as a hazardous chemical to exposed fumigators and related workers as well as a ozone depletion chemical. According to recent report in USA and Korea, when MeBr fumigated on orange and grape at low temperature (<10℃), absorbed MeBr on fruits was slowly released to workplace. To replace MeBr practices urgently, ethyl formate (EF) fumigation is considered safer to worker (TLV of EF = 100 ppm compared to MeBr's = 1 ppm) and free from residual problem. We reports confirmative liquid EF (FumateTM) with N2 trials, which is cost-effective and non-CO2 gas emitted, on imported grapes. The 4hr-fumigation of 70 gm-3of EF (CTP > 114 gh-3) in scale-up chamber (10m3) fumigation (20% l.r.), showed efficacies to many kinds of insect pests, non-phytotoxic damage, providing safer guideline at workplace.

Ethyl formate (EF) and methyl salicylate (MS) are naturally occurring and generally safe substances for use. Sub-lethaldoses of EF and MS were evaluated to find synergistic fumigation action against azuki bean beetle (ABB), Callosobruchuschinensis (L.). Susceptibility of the ABB to EF was in the order of eggs =adults >larvae >pupae. Adults was most sensitiveto MS, and followed by eggs. Larvae and pupae were highly tolerant to MS. However, in synergistic effects of EF andMS showed that all the stages of ABB were highly sensitive in the order of adults >eggs >larvae >pupae. Highest synergisticratio was found against adults when using LC10 of both EF and MS as compared to other stages. Notably, MS synergizedthe EF exposure to all stages of ABB. This finding paves the way to exploiting synergistic activity of MS and EF againstABB for the safeguard of stored azuki bean grains.

The spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii, is a severe pest of berry fruits like strawberry, blueberry, sweet cherry and grape in terms of quarantine. For the disinfestation of SWD, methyl bromide (MeBr) is the only option in quarantine practice. However, MeBr's current use will be phased out due to chronic inhalation toxicity to fumigators and related worker as well as ozone depletion properties. To replace MeBr, we evaluated the efficacy of ethyl formate (EF) and phosphine gas (PH3) to all different developmental stages of SWD at practical fumigation condition (>25 ℃). To achieve complete control of all stages of SWD, PH3 required > 6 hr exposure when applied at > 1.0 g m-3. In case of 4hr EF fumigation, the LCt99 (LCt99, 99% lethal concentration × time) of EF to egg, larvae and pupae of SWD was 198.09, 77.42 and 115.55 g·h m-3, respectively.

The bulb mite (BM), Rhizoglyphus echinopus, is hard to control in the harvested onion and garlic. Methyl bromide (MeBr) fumigation is the only option to eradicate BM at present. However, MeBr causes phytotoxic damage (index 3) to onion and garlic and highly toxic to fumigators. To replace MeBr, we evaluated ethyl formate (EF) and phosphine gas (PH3) to BM at 5℃ which is current practical fumigation temperature. The >140 g·h m-3 of EF for 24 h could completely control BM and this CT (concentration × time) product was slightly (index 1) phytotoxic to onion and garlic. Fumigation of 2 g PH3 required >120 h exposure to kill 100% of BM without any pyhtotoxic damage. Further researches are being planned to shorten the exposure time with synergistic effect between EF and PH3.