essential oil extracted from the leaves of myrtle, myrtus communis l. (myrtaceae)was tested in vitro for volatile toxicity against two stored-product insects (tribolium confusum and callosobruchus maculatus). the chemical composition of the plant oil was examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (gc-ms). the major oil components were α-pinene (10.4%), α- terpineol (10.1%), linalool (9.0%...

To inform current and future pesticide availability to glasshouse vegetable growers, the current project trialled more than twenty products, including existing industry standards, against four key pests of glasshouse tomatoes and bell peppers. These included experimental conventional chemical pesticides as well as alternative biopesticide and biorational products based on phytochemicals, microb...

The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, is a major agricultural pest responsible for considerable loss of stored grain and cereal products worldwide. T. castaneum larvae have a highly compartmentalized gut, with cysteine peptidases mostly in the acidic anterior part of the midgut that are critical to the early stages of food digestion. In previous studies, we described 26 putative cysteine p...

Modified/controlled atmosphere applications, as an alternative to the chemical treatments, are effective technique in controlling pest of stored products, especially dried fruits. In gas tight units, it is applied with principle preventing insect respiration by changing oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2) levels atmosphere. study, 1-, 2- 3- d-old pupae fruit beetle, Carpophilus ...

Sweet corn, Zea mays L., is attacked by a variety of insect pests that can cause severe losses to the producer. Current control practices are largely limited to the application of broad-spectrum insecticides that can have a substantial and deleterious impact on the natural enemy complex. Predators have been shown to provide partial control of sweet corn pests when not killed by broad-spectrum i...

In October 2004 the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture celebrated 40 years of existence. The creation in October 1964 of this Division, which includes the Insect Pest Control Subprogramme, marked the beginning of what is certainly a unique and arguably the best example of inter-agency cooperation within the whole UN family. The goal was to join the talents and...

A fundamental shift to a total system approach for crop protection is urgently needed to resolve escalating economic and environmental consequences of combating agricultural pests. Pest management strategies have long been dominated by quests for "silver bullet" products to control pest outbreaks. However, managing undesired variables in ecosystems is similar to that for other systems, includin...