Impact of plasma irradiation on Tribolium castaneum

Abstract

Radio frequency plasma (RFP) could provide reliable, compact, cost-effective irradiation applications against insect pests of stored food and feed products. Sensitivity of red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum to RFP has been investigated using an irradiation applicator system with the two types of inert gases, argon (Ar) and helium (He), at 100 W for five exposure time levels of 0, 20, 40, 60 and 90 s, respectively. We demonstrated that He RFP was more efficient against T. castaneum than Ar RFP. In addition, a positive correlation was observed between mortality percentages of treated insect stages and exposure times for both He and Ar RFP. The adult stage showed the highest tolerance to RFP irradiation followed by larvae and pupae; however, it was more susceptible than larvae within 24 h after He RFP treatments. The optimum exposure time was 90 s with He RFP, where a full mortality at all tested stages was accomplished, while mortalities of 71.4, 65.3 and 36.7% were recorded for pupae, larvae and adult stage, respectively, after an Ar RFP treatment of 90 s. In case of treated adults, the reproduction rate was higher than treated larvae and pupae. Our findings indicated that He RFP was an effective method for inhibiting T. castaneum development and impacting the insect life cycle and could be considered a promising tool for pest control of stored food.

Short-time cold atmospheric pressure plasma exposure can kill all life stages of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, under laboratory conditions

“…Our results showed that the survival rates of plasma-exposed PRM depended significantly on the exposure time and, moreover, may be time-delayed. These results correspond to the findings of Donohue et al ( 2006 ) and Sayed et al ( 2021 ) that the mortality rate of plasma-treated insects depends not only on the duration of CAPP exposure but also in the post-plasma exposure period. In our study, PRM demonstrated significant differences in survival rates with respect to the utilized exposure duration.…”

“…In our study, in female PRM adults the lethal effect of CAPP occurred time-delayed, so that complete cumulative mortality was achieved later on. Similarly, it was described by Sayed et al ( 2021 ) that adult red flour beetles are in turn more tolerant to indirect effects such as reactive oxygen species. These could presumably damage the cells, leading to a time-delayed lethal effect of CAPP in insects (Sayed et al 2021 ).…”

“…Similarly, it was described by Sayed et al ( 2021 ) that adult red flour beetles are in turn more tolerant to indirect effects such as reactive oxygen species. These could presumably damage the cells, leading to a time-delayed lethal effect of CAPP in insects (Sayed et al 2021 ).…”

“…Keever et al ( 2001 ) used CAPP with helium to treat cigarette beetles ( Lasioderma serricorne ) and observed a mortality rate of 92% in adults after exposure to 70 s irradiation. Non-thermal plasma was also shown to be effective against storage pests like the red flour beetle ( Tribolium castaneum ) and the Indian meal moth ( Plodia interpunctella ) (Abd El-Aziz et al 2014 ; Sayed et al 2021 ). CAPP was also successfully implemented against human parasites like the head lice ( Pediculus humanus capitis ) (ten Bosch et al 2019 ).…”

“…These findings are inconsistent with the results of some research groups that have investigated CAPP on insects. Sayed et al ( 2021 ) observed that the larval and pupal stages of the red flour beetle are more tolerant to direct effects of plasma exposure than the adult stages. Studies on the head lice have shown that adult females are just as susceptible as juvenile stages but adult males showed a lower mortality rate (ten Bosch et al 2019 ).…”