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Background:
Fumigation
with methyl bromide (mebr) is one of the most widely used methods
of disinfesting a range of plants and plant (including timber)
products, but recent concerns over its role as an ozone-depleting
chemical have resulted in its listing under the Montreal Protocol.
Consequently, international restrictions are now being placed
on its use. Nevertheless, international phytosanitary legislation
in the European Union (EU) and elsewhere requires that plant material
be free of dangerous pests and diseases, thus requiring that effective
treatments should be available.
Objectives:
The
objectives of this proposal are to develop a range of new and
alternative post harvest plant quarantine treatments for timber
and horticultural products in the face of:
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Restrictions on the use of methyl bromide.
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The continuing threat of new pest species being introduced to
and distributed around the EU.
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Strict phytosanitary requirements demanded by third countries
restricting the export of material from the EU.
Description:
The
project will investigate the efficacy of alternatives to the use
of mebr for quarantine treatments and attempt to develop commercially
viable treatments for a number of commodities and pests that are
of particular concern to EU Member States. The project will concentrate
on the two extremes of, on the one hand, live perishable products,
predominantly of horticultural origin and, on the other hand,
timber and timber products, thus providing a wide range of potential
applications for alternative treatments. Specifically, the proposed
treatment regimes are: heat treatments, composting, hot water
dips, controlled atmospheres, fumigants other than mebr and combinations
of the above. Some or all of these will be tested against timber,
woody ornamentals, propagation material and cut flowers. The aims
of the project will be achieved in the following way:
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Responses of pests and commodities will be assessed and used
to draw up those predicted to give maximum control of the pest,
whilst causing minimum damage to the commodity.
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Appropriate further experimentation will be carried out to verify
and, if necessary, modify the draft regimes, under conditions
that duplicate commercial ones as closely as possible.
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Where possible, quarantine treatment schedules will be drawn
up and submitted to EPPO, or if appropriate, other international
bodies.
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KEYWORDS (maxlo): Methyl Bromide, Quarantine, Plant Health,
Pests, Treatments.
Current
situation/results:
The
project started in 1999 and good progress has been achieved in
the initial stages. Early work has included investigation and
testing of composting variables, work on the initial development
of a mathematical model of heat penetration into timber products,
testing of alternative fumigants and the effect of hot water dipping
on pests and their host plants.
Extensive
datasets have been generated on damage caused to Dendrathema
spp. by hot water treatments at a range of temperatures, and
a simple (commercially viable) method of reducing damage caused
by higher temperatures is being investigated. Similar large datasets
on the effect of hot water treatments of the various life stages
of Liriomyza huidobrensis, Thrips palmi and Opogona
sacchari have also been generated, which will form the basis
of pest-control techniques developed under this work.
Equipment
design and testing phases of the project have been completed in
other areas of investigation listed above, and complete datasets
are expected in these areas by April 2000.
Website:
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Coordinator
Keith
WALTERS
MAFF
- Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food
Central
Science Laboratory
UK-Y04
1LZ Sand Hutton
Tel.:
+44 1904 46 22 03
Fax:
+44 1904 46 21 11
E-mail:
K.Walters@csl.gov.uk
Partners
- Nollie MARISSEN
Research Station for Floriculture and Glasshouse vegetables
Linnaeuslaan 2A
NL-1431 JV Aalsmeer
Tel.: +31 297 35 25 25
Fax: +31 297 35 22 70
E-mail: j.fransen@pbg.agro.nl
- Hugh EVANS
Forestry Commission Research Agency
UK-GU1O 4LH Wrecclesham Farnham
Tel.: +44 1420 22 255
Fax: +44 1420 23 653
E-mail: h.evans@forestry.gov.uk
- Gordon KNAGGS
Forbairt
Glasnevien
IRL-9 Dublin
Tel.: +353 1 808 26 35
Fax: +353 1 808 26 22
E-mail: knaggs@forbairt.ie
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