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Vapour heat as a potential means of controlling insects in stored dates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2025

Rasha A. Zinhoum Open the ORCID record for Rasha A. Zinhoum [Opens in a new window] ,
Amira A. K. H. Negm Open the ORCID record for Amira A. K. H. Negm [Opens in a new window]  and
W. K. M. El-Shafei Open the ORCID record for W. K. M. El-Shafei [Opens in a new window]
Rasha A. Zinhoum*
Affiliation:
Stord Product Pest Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Dokki, Egypt
Amira A. K. H. Negm
Affiliation:
Horticulture Pests Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Dokki, Egypt
W. K. M. El-Shafei
Affiliation:
Department of Date Palm Pests and Diseases, Central Laboratory for Date Palm, Agricultural Research Centre (ARC), Giza, Egypt
*
Corresponding author: Rasha A. Zinhoum; Email: rashazinhoum76@gmail.com
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Abstract

Post-harvest treatments are very critical in accepting the exported dates. However, stored dates are attacked by a wide range of stored pests causing serious damage to yield. Therefore, this study investigated the efficacy of treating stored dates variety Siwi with vapour heat on almond moth Ephestia cautella (Walker), the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), the saw-toothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis Linnaeus, the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), and the drugstore beetle Stegobium paniceum (L.) of stored dates. Additionally, the effects of vapour heat on the quality and microbial load of treated dates were examined. The tested insects were infested and randomly distributed to eight positions inside a vapour heat chamber at 46.5°C and 95% relative humidity for 30 min. The results showed that a 120 cm height from the vapour heat source led 100% mortality in all tested insects. Furthermore, the treatment of vapour heat had a great efficacy to eliminate infestations. Meanwhile, the vapour heat treatment slightly reduced the microbial load of stored dates, and non-significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected the chemical and physical characteristics of the stored dates. Therefore, vapour heat is a safe and environmentally friendly insect pest control alternative for exported dates.

Keywords

date qualityPhoenix dactyliferasensory evaluationstored date insectvapour heat
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , First View , pp. 1 - 8
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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