Efficacy of Silicosec, filter cake and wood ash against the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on three maize genotypes

The effectiveness of the diatomaceous earth Silicosec, a mineral industrial filter cake and domestic wood ash, applied at three different rates for the control of the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, on three maize genotypes was determined. Treatment with Silicosec was the most effective followed by filter cake and wood ash. The treatments reduced progeny emergence, percentage grain damage and grain weight losses, but did not affect percentage seed germination. Grain treated with wood ash at all rates resulted in a relatively low mortality 3 days after infestation as compared to other treatments. However, all treatments caused high mortality (97-100%) after 15 days of exposure. Therefore, Silicosec, filter cake and wood ash can be considered as potential components of an integrated pest management strategy against the maize weevil.     

Insecticidal effect of three diatomaceous earth formulations, applied alone or in combination, against three stored-product beetle species on wheat and maize

Laboratory tests were carried out to examine the insecticidal effect of three commercially available diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations on wheat and maize against three major stored-grain beetle species: Rhyzopertha dominica, Sitophilus oryzae, and Tribolium confusum. The three DEs tested were Insecto^®, PyriSec^®, and Protect-It^®. These DEs were applied alone or in all possible combinations (Insecto^®+PyriSec^®, Insecto^®+Protect-It^®, PyriSec^®+Protect-It^®, and all three DEs together), at three (total) dose rates: 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 g/kg of each commodity. Adults of the above species were exposed to the treated commodities for 7 d at 26 °C, and 65% r.h., and after this interval the mortality was measured. For each species, adult mortality was significantly affected by the type of DE, the commodity, and the dose rate. All DEs were less effective against T. confusum, where mortality did not exceed 67%, in comparison with the other two species, where 100% mortality was achieved in some combinations. For all species tested, all DEs were more effective on wheat than on maize. Generally, the mix of two or three DEs was more effective than the application of one DE, for all species and commodities. The results of the present work clearly indicate that a blending of several DEs together may produce a new DE formulation that is highly effective at low dose rates.     

三种不同陈酿工艺的杨梅干红酒香成分对比分析

采用GC-MS联用技术对3种不同陈酿条件下的杨梅干红主要芳香香成分进行对比分析.结果表明,瓶装室温陈酿3年酒样酯类成分较高,特征成分为丁二酸二乙酯(17.67%)、柠檬酸二乙酯(9.29%)、丁二酸乙酯(8.87%)、2-羟基丁二酸二乙酯(4.01%)等;瓶装5 ℃陈酿2年的酒样以原果香萜烯醇类为主,特征成分为四甲基环癸二烯甲醇(15.89%)、桉叶-4(14)-烯-11-醇(14.78%)、戊醇(4.39%)和β-苯乙醇(3.77%)等,但酯类形成较少;橡木桶17 ℃陈酿1年的酒样特征成分为橡木桶和原果香萜烯醇类,如反式橙花叔醇(18.69%)、戊醇(9.65%)、β-苯乙醇(7.72%)、桉叶-4(14)-烯-11-醇(4.99%)等,橡木桶丰富了其酒香风格.以上结果证明,3种杨梅干红酒样的特征成分明显不同,酒香风格与陈酿条件密切相关.     

Comparison of efficacy of nitric oxide fumigation under nitrogen and carbon dioxide atmospheres in controlling granary weevil (Sitophilus granaries) and confused flour beetle (Tribolium confusum)

Nitric oxide (NO) was a recently discovered fumigant for postharvest pest control. Because NO reacts with oxygen (O₂) spontaneously to form nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), NO fumigation must be conducted under ultralow oxygen (ULO) atmospheres to preserve NO and nitrogen (N₂) has been used to establish ULO atmospheres in NO fumigation studies in the past. However, carbon dioxide (CO₂) can also be used to ULO atmospheres and CO₂ fumigation was also reported to be effective in controlling certain insect pests and enhancing toxicity of some fumigants. In the present study, NO fumigations under ULO conditions established with N₂ and CO₂ were compared for effects against granary weevil, Sitophilus granaries, and confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum. All life stages of the two insects were subjected to 12 h fumigation treatments with 0.5–1.0% NO at 25 °C under ULO established with CO₂ (NO–CO₂ treatments) and N₂ (NO–N₂ treatments). The most tolerant life stage for each species in each fumigation treatment was then fumigated with NO for 24 h fumigation at 25 °C to determine an effective treatment. There were no significant differences in mortalities of adults, larvae, and pupae at all NO concentrations between ULO conditions established with CO₂ and N₂ for either insect. NO–CO₂ was, however, significantly less effective than NO–N₂ against eggs of both species. Granary weevil pupae and confused flour beetle eggs were the most tolerant stages for each respective species to NO fumigation: >99% mortality of granary weevil pupae and confused flour beetle eggs were, however, achieved in the 24 h fumigation with 2% and 1% NO, respectively. This study showed that CO₂ can be used to establish ULO atmospheres for NO fumigation, but did not significantly contribute to insect mortality.     

Toxic and behavioural effects of different modified diatomaceous earths on the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Orthoptera: Blattellidae) under simulated field conditions

Defined populations of German cockroaches were observed after exposure to deposits (25 g/m²) of various modified and un-modified diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations by using a computer-aided device measuring motility, circadian rhythm, and mortality under defined environmental and climatic field-simulating conditions. In a humid climate (85% r.h.) with water and food offered ad libitum, complete population eradication could be achieved within 10 days with three out of seven DE formulations tested. Results revealed two basic factors affecting mortality: (a) formulations containing freshwater diatoms from Spain were significantly more effective than those originating from marine diatoms purchased from Fur Island, Denmark (P<0.0001), and (b) the higher the degree of coating with a silica-aerogel to increase oil-carrying capacity, the greater the efficacy (P<0.0001 to 0.07). Exposure to DEs resulted in complete disruption of the species-specific circadian rhythm of German cockroach populations with six out of seven DE formulations investigated. A remaining rudimentary circadian rhythm was found after exposure to one formulation. It is concluded that strongly hydrophobic formulations of DE can be used for effective cockroach control even in tropical environments, especially as part of a least-toxic Integrated Pest Management control strategy. Nevertheless, it remains unclear to what extent newly developed DEs, coated or formulated with different chemical compounds resulting in modified surface characteristics, could potentially produce adverse health effects to humans.     

Comparison of different extraction and clean-up procedures for the determination of fumonisins in maize and maizebased food products

In order to optimize the analytical method for the determination of fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) and fumonisin B₂ (FB₂) in diVerent maize products, five materials (maize flour, cornflakes, extruded maize, muffins and infant formula) were investigated under a variety of experimental conditions organized in a ruggedness test according to a factorial design. The influence of five factors (extraction solvent, extraction mode, volume of extraction solvent, test sample size and clean-up) on method performances was tested by four laboratories using spiked materials (0.5 μg/g and 1.5 μg/g FB₁ + FB₂) and naturally contaminated materials (ca 1.5 μg/g with FB₁ + FB₂). The end determination step was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the o-phthaldialdehyde derivatized extracts. The ruggedness test permitted identification of two critical factors in the analysis of fumonisins in the above products, namely 'extraction solvent' and 'cleanup procedure'. In particular, the use of acetonitrile (ACN)-water (1 + 1, v + v) as extraction solvent and immunoaffinity column for clean-up provided better recovery of fumonisins and chromatographic resolution as compared with methanol (MeOH)-water (3 + 1, v + v) and strong anion exchange (SAX), respectively. However, phase separation occurring after extraction with ACN-water may have given incorrect results. Based on the information obtained with the present study it was possible to develop a new method horizonhorizontally applicable to all the above mentioned maize-based food matrices.     

不同温度对氮气气调锈赤扁谷盗各虫态致死时间比较研究

掌握温度对氮气气调中害虫不同虫态致死时间的影响程度对科学控制气调时间和成功杀虫具有重要意义。测定了18℃、23℃和28℃温度时锈赤扁谷盗的卵、幼虫、蛹和成虫在98%氮气气调过程中不同时间的死亡率及完全致死时间。温度18℃时锈赤扁谷盗卵、幼虫、蛹和成虫的完全致死时间分别为28、18、28和14 d,23℃时完全致死时间分别为22、14、24和8 d,28℃时完全致死时间分别为16、9、18和5 d。温度18℃时卵、幼虫、蛹和成虫的完全致死时间比23℃时相应延迟6、4、4和6 d,比28℃时相应延迟12、9、10和9 d。实验温度下98%氮气气调时锈赤扁谷盗耐受力最强的虫为蛹期,其后依次为卵、幼虫和成虫期。锈赤扁谷盗蛹在18、23和28℃温度下的死亡率-时间回归方程分别为y = 3.85x - 3.85、y = 4.01x - 3.53和y = 4.72x - 3.71。温度降低显著延迟98%氮气气调杀虫时间,氮气气调锈赤扁谷盗时应以杀死其耐受力最强的蛹为目标。     

A wild strain of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) from farm-stored maize in South Carolina: Development under different temperature, moisture, and dietary conditions

The purpose of this study was to determine the duration of immature development and survivorship of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) on maize over a range of temperatures and grain moisture contents encountered in maize stored on farms in the southeastern states (USA). Laboratory cultures were established with moths collected from farm-stored maize in South Carolina and maintained on cracked maize at 30 °C and 60% r.h. The incubation period and percentage hatch of eggs was determined at 18 combinations of temperature and r.h. Hatch was <1% at 15 and 40 °C. In the range 20-35 °C, percentage hatch declined as temperature increased, and the mean incubation period ranged from 3.1 to 8.5 d. Neither percentage hatch nor incubation period were affected by r.h. between 43% and 76%. The relationship between mean developmental period (oviposition to adult eclosion) and temperature was well described by a quadratic polynomial that predicted a decline from 67.6 to 30.1 d as temperature increased from 20 to 31.1 °C, followed by an increase to 38.5 d as temperature increased further to 35 °C. The results suggest a lower temperature threshold for development near 15 °C and an upper limit slightly greater than 35 °C. Moisture content had a significant effect on developmental period at all the temperatures studied, but the pattern of variation with moisture depended upon the temperature.     

Changes in the volatile profile of skim milk powder prepared under different processing conditions and the effect on the volatile flavor profile of model white chocolate

The objective of this work is to determine the extent to which changes in the skim milk powder (SMP) manufacturing process alter the volatile profile of SMP, and whether these changes are carried through to a final product when the SMP is used as an ingredient and subjected to further processing. The manufacture of SMP is a multistage process involving a preliminary concentration step, heat treatment, and a drying stage. However, the methods and conditions used by the industry are not standardized, and the inherent variability in the production of SMP has consequences for the end-users, such as the confectionery industry, where the SMP is used as an ingredient during the production of milk chocolate, white chocolate, and caramel. This study investigates the effect of each stage of the manufacturing process on the concentration of reducing sugars and available amino groups (as precursors of the Maillard reaction) as well as on the volatile products of the Maillard reaction and lipid degradation. Eight types of SMP were produced using combinations of different processing conditions: concentration (by evaporation or reverse osmosis), heat treatment (low heat or high heat), and drying (spray-drying or freeze-drying). Maillard precursors were quantified after each processing stage and volatile compounds were extracted using solid-phase microextraction, and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The resulting SMP were incorporated into a model white chocolate system, produced under varying conching conditions. We demonstrate not only that changes in the SMP manufacturing conditions affect the volatile profile of SMP, but also that these differences can be carried through to a final product when the SMP is used to prepare a model white chocolate. Understanding these differences is important to the industry for controlling the flavor of the end product.     

Changes in the catechin and epicatechin content of grape seeds on storage under different water activity (aw) conditions

Storage effect on antioxidant content and capacity of grape seeds under different a_w conditions (a_w 0.33; 0.53; 0.75/50 days, 25 °C) was examined. Total phenol content (determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method) decreased during storage though changes were trivial for samples stored at 33% or 53% RH. High level of humidity (75%) accelerated degradation and resulted in a ∼50% reduction of total phenol content. Minor loss of the DPPH radical scavenging activity (%RSA) of the extracts was observed. Catechin and epicatechin content monitored by RP-HPLC was reduced during storage, particularly at 75% RH. Epicatechin content proved to be less sensitive to water activity conditions than catechin content. Results of various in vitro assays (Folin–Ciocalteu, FRAP, DPPH, ABTS, CBA, ORAC and copper induced liposome oxidation) did not support difference in terms of resistance to oxidation. Based on the continuous release of gallic acid, our finding was related to hydrolytic reactions. Control of a_w of grape seeds can be of practical importance for the wine industry.     

Effectiveness of products from four locally grown plants for the management of Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) and Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman) (both Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in stored beans under laboratory and farm conditions in Northern Tanzania

The effectiveness of whole or powdered leaves (botanicals) from four locally grown plant species applied at a rate of 1.5 kg per 100 kg beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) against Acanthoscelides obtectus and Zabrotes subfasciatus was compared under laboratory and farm conditions. In the laboratory, Chenopodium ambrosioides, applied as powder or as whole leaves, was the most effective, with 100% mortality of adult insects in less than three days and no progeny. Less C. ambrosioides (about 200 g per 100 kg beans) still resulted in 100% mortality within 24 h. Tagetes minuta applied as powder also increased mortality and reduced oviposition and progeny production significantly. The other treatments - T. minuta applied as leaves, and Azadirachta indica or Cupressus lusitanica applied as powder or as whole leaves - had no significant effects upon mortalities, oviposition rate, or progeny production compared with control treatments. When the rate of application was increased to about 8.3 kg per 100 kg beans, there was a slight increase in mortality using T. minuta and A. indica, but not with C. lusitanica. An additional trial with C. ambrosioides from different collections and with plants at different stages of development revealed considerable variations in the efficacy of the treatment.In the on-farm trials, A. indica-seed powder was the most effective treatment, followed respectively by leaf powders of C. ambrosioides, C. lusitanica and T. minuta. All treatments were significantly more effective than the control in reducing the numbers of live insects; they also reduced numbers of damaged beans and maintained germination rates after 5 months of storage. The results of evaluations of the treatments made by farmers just after the trials and five years later are reported.