Abstract:
The objective of this investigation was to study the effects of nitrogen gas on
Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius) at different developmental stages (larva, pupa, adult, and egg) under the conditions of laboratory and real storage. In the laboratory,
L. serricorne of the four developmental stages were treated with 95% and 99% nitrogen gas at 20, 25, and 30 ℃. After 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 days, the concentration of nitrogen was measured and mortality was recorded. Under real storage conditions, 99% nitrogen gas was used to treat
L. serricorne in a closed stack and mortality was recorded after 9 and 30 days. The experiments were designed in three replicates. The six combined treatments had certain lethal effects on
L. serricorne under the experimental conditions, and mortality increased with the increase in nitrogen concentration, temperature, and duration of treatment. In addition, nitrogen had significant effects on
L. serricorne of different developmental stages, especially eggs and adults. When eggs were treated with 99% nitrogen at 20, 25, and 30 ℃ for 4 days, and adults were treated with 99% nitrogen at 30 ℃ for 4 days, the mortality reached 100%. Under real storage conditions, when 99% nitrogen was used to treat the closed stack for 9 days, the mortality of larvae, pupa and adults of
L. serricorne all reached 100%. The findings of this study suggest that nitrogen gas can effectively control
L. serricorne in tobacco storage and is more effective at elevated temperature and nitrogen concentration.