EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 10 - 2001 Num. article: 2001/177

Fumigation treatments against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in wood packing material


The efficacy of fumigation treatments against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (EPPO A1 quarantine pest) in wood packing material was studied in Japan, as possible alternatives to hot air treatment (at 56°C for more than 30 min). Boards (2 cm thick x 15 cm wide x 30 cm long) and lumber (15 cm thick x 15 cm wide x 30 cm long) were made from Pinus densiflora wood collected in Ibaraki and Fukuoka prefectures and infested by B. xylophilus (more than 10,000 nematodes per 100 g). They were fumigated at 15 °C with several doses (20, 30, 40, 60, 80 g/m3) of methyl bromide, sulfuryl fluoride and methyl isothiocyanate during 24 or 48 hours. Results showed that to achieve complete mortality of B. xylophilus in boards and lumber, the following treatments (all at 15 °C) could be used:
- methyl bromide at 60 g/m3 for 24 hours
- methyl bromide at 40 g/m3 for 48 hours
- methyl isothiocyanate at 40 g/m3 for 24 hours
- methyl isothiocyanate at 20 g/m3 for 48 hours
The efficacy of sulfuryl fluoride was not sufficient as survivors were observed.

Sources

Soma, Y.; Naito, H.; Misumi, T.; Mizobuchi, M.; Tsuchiya, Y.; Matsuoka, I.; Kawakami, F. (2001) Effects of some fumigants on pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus infecting wooden packages. 1. Susceptibility of pine wood nematodes to methyl bromide, sulfuryl fluoride and methyl isothiocyanate.
Research Bulletin of the Plant Protection Service Japan, no. 37, 19-26.