Evaluation of synergistic effect between ethyl formate and phosphine for control of three species Aphids in perishable commodity

Methyl bromide (MB) as a fumigant for Quarantine and Pre-shipment (QPS) could offer eradication of target pests within shorter fumigation period and without phytotoxicity. Therefore, unlike MB alternatives for soil fumigation, there is no ideally MB alternative fumigant for QPS purpose, particularly for perishable commodities. It is critically important that within shorter fumigation time requires killing all target insect pests and without effect of quality and deliver treated fruit and vegetables to the final consumer. Aphids are pests frequently found in imported and exported fruit and vegetables. Aphids was known as quarantine pest hard to control when conduct short period fumigation with phosphine (PH3) and low dose of ethyl formate (EF). Ethyl formate can lead to highly sorption and phytotoxic damage of some perishable commodities such as strawberries and cut flowers, especially at lower temperature (< 8°C). Here, we reported that synergistic effect between ethyl formate and phosphine at lower dosages and temperature. The mixture of ethyl formate and phosphine had synergistic effect to control adult and nymph stages of tested cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii), green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) and turnip aphid (Lipaphis erysimi). When 0.5 mg/L of PH3 combined with different levels of EF at 5 and 20°C for 2 hours fumigation, there was significantly difference in terms of LCT50% and LCT90% values in comparison with EF or PH3 alone. This new technology could be meet QPS requirement that is shorter exposure time and less damage of perishable commodities.