Ozone can potentially replace insecticides to control pests in various crops

Ozone could hold potential insecticidal properties, according to researchers from Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado in Venezuela. The results of their study, which was published in Idesia (Arica), tested the efficacy of ozone against the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne), an especially damaging insect pest for products such as tobacco, flour, chocolate, breakfast cereals, and animal foods.

• Researchers used metallic silos measuring 592.67 cm³ for their experiments. One silo was empty, while the other one was filled with maize.
• Fifty adult cigarette beetles were placed in each silo, which was then treated with ozone at concentrations of 20 parts per million (ppm). The silos were treated during the 10th, 15th, 30th and 60th minute after each silo.
• The treatment was repeated for five times, and the resultant data were analyzed using a 2-by-5 randomized factorial arrangement.
• Exposure to ozone resulted in significant differences in mortality rates in empty silos (65.44 percent) and maize-filled silos (26 percent).
• Similar trends were also reported for exposure time, with mortality rates increasing from 24.2 to 66.6 percent with the increase in time. Likewise, interaction time per silo greatly affected mortality rates, with empty silos being higher (95.2 percent) than maize (38 percent).

Researchers have found that ozone exhibited insecticidal properties against the cigarette beetle and can be used to manage the pest in grains and stored foods.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

Learn more about natural pesticides for your crops at Harvest.news.

Journal Reference:

Solano Y, Triana J, Ávila R, Hernández D, Morales J. EFECTO DEL OZONO SOBRE ADULTOS DEL GORGOJO DEL CIGARRILLO, LASIODERMA SERRICORNE (F.) (COLEOPTERA: ANOBIIDAE). June 2017;35(2):1–7. DOI: 10.4067/S0718-34292017005000007