Biocontrol of stored grain insects and postharvest rot diseases in fresh produce of fruits and vegetables in Palestine

Y. Batta

Department of Plant Production & Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, An-Najah National University, Nablus, West Bank, Palestine     

Abstract

The objective of the present poster was to summarize the research results obtained during the last five years due to application of biopesticides for protection of the stored grain from insect damage and the fresh produce of fruits and vegetables from postharvest fungal rot infection. Bioprotection of stored grain from insects was achieved by application of effective mycoinsecticides like the entomopathogenic fungi [e.g. Metarhizium anisopliae (Batta 2004c and 2005a; Batta and Abu Safieh 2005) and Beauveria bassiana (Batta 2008)] formulated in novel liquid or dry forms, whereas bioprotection of fresh produce of fruit and vegetables from fungal rot pathogens was obtained by application of effective mycofungicides like antagonistic fungi [e.g. Trichoderma harzianum (Batta 2004a, 2004b, 2005b, 2006 and 2007)] formulated in invert emulsion. Many species of stored grain insects [e.g. Sitophilus oryzae (2004c and 2008), Rhyzopertha dominica (Batta 2005a and 2008) and Tribolium castaneum (Batta and Abu Safieh 2005 and Batta 2008)] and plant pathogens of fresh produce [e.g. Botrytis cinerea (Batta 2004b and 2007), Penicillium expansum (Batta 2004a and 2007), Alternaria alternata (Batta 2005b), Rhizopus stolonifer (Batta 2006 and 2007) and Mucor pyriformis (Batta 2006)] were effectively controlled by application of the above-mentioned biopesticides during the research conducted. It is thus concluded that the above types of biopesticdes could be used successfully in the grain stores and in the containers of fresh produce of fruit and vegetables for bioprotection of these commodities. Moreover, no health or environmental risk that may be associated by application of these types of biopesticides.  

References

Batta, Y. A. (2004a). Effect of treatment with Trichoderma harzianum Rifai formulated in invert emulsion on postharvest decay of apple blue mold. Internat.. J. Food Microbiol. 96, 281-288.

Batta, Y. A. (2004b). Postharvest biological control of apple gray mold by Trichoderma harzianum Rifai formulated in an invert emulsion. Crop Protection 23, 19-26.

Batta, Y. A. (2004c). Control of rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L. , Coleoptera : Curculionidae) with various formulations of Metarhizium anisoplie. Crop Protection 23, 103-108.

Batta, Y. A. (2005a). Control of the lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha  dominica F.,  Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) by treatments

with residual formulations of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metch.) Sorokin (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes). J. Stored Products Res. 41, 221-229.

Batta, Y. A. (2005b). Control of Alternaria spot disease on loquat using detached fruits and leaf-disk assay. An-Najah Univer. J. Res.: Natural Sci. 19, 69-81.

Batta, Y. A. and Abu Safieh, D. I. (2005). A study of treatment effect with Metarhizium anisopliae and four types of dusts on wheat grain infestation with red flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum Herbs, Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The Islamic Univer.  Gaza J. 13, 11-22.

Batta, Y. A. (2006). Postharvest control of soft-rot fungi on grape berries by fungicidal treatment and Trichoderma. J.  Appl. Hortic. 8, 29-32.

Batta, Y. A. (2007). Control of postharvest diseases of fruit with an invert emulsion formulation of Trichoderma harzianum

Rifai. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 43, 143-150. 

       Batta, Y. A. (2008). Control of main stored-grain insects with new formulations of entomopathogenic fungi in diatomaceous earth dusts. Internat. J. Food Engineering 4 (1), Art. 9 (16 p.).

Presenting author information

Y. Batta, An-Najah National University, P.O.Box 7, Nablus, Palestine.

Phone: +972 9 2395105, Fax: +972 9 2395105, E-mail: [email protected] (permanent); [email protected] (present)                                                                                       

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