A Novel Ethyl Formate Fumigation Strategy for Managing Yellow Tea Thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) in Greenhouse Cultivated Mangoes and Post-Harvest Fruits

Abstract

Simple Summary Climate change, along with increased demand for tropical fruits like mangoes, has led to an increase in greenhouse cultivation in South Korea, raising the risk of yellow tea thrips infestations. Our study explored ethyl formate fumigation as a safe, effective alternative to traditional pesticides in mango greenhouse cultivation and post-harvest storage. This novel fumigation method was successfully able to manage thrips without harming mango trees or fruits, offering an environmentally friendly pest management approach benefiting both farmers and consumers. The effects of climate change and shifting consumer preferences for tropical/subtropical mango fruits have accelerated their greenhouse cultivation in South Korea, which has consequently exacerbated the risk of unexpected or exotic insect pest outbreaks. This study used the pest risk analysis (PRA) of greenhouse-cultivated mangoes provided by the Animal & Plant Quarantine Agency in Korea to evaluate the potential of ethyl formate (EF) fumigation as a new pest management strategy against the yellow tea thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis), which is considered a surrogate pest in the thrips group according to the PRA. The efficacy and phytotoxicity of EF were evaluated in greenhouse-cultivated mango tree (Irwin variety) and post-harvest mango fruit scenarios. EF efficacy ranged from 6.25 to 6.89 g & BULL;h/m(3) for lethal concentration time (LCt)(50) and from 17.10 to 18.18 g & BULL;h/m(3) for LCt(99), indicating similar efficacy across both scenarios. Application of 10 g/m(3) EF for 4 h at 23 & DEG;C could effectively control S. dorsalis (100% mortality) without causing phytotoxic damage to the greenhouse-cultivated mango trees, while post-harvest mango fruit fumigation with 15 g/m(3) EF for 4 h at 10 & DEG;C showed potential for complete disinfestation of S. dorsalis without compromising fruit quality.