Ozone: An Alternative Fumigant in Controlling the Stored Product Insects and Pests: A Status Report
Bhavadharini Boopathy, Anbarasan Rajan, R. Mahendran
Abstract
Effective management of agricultural commodities is of paramount importance for post-harvest storage. With its foremost oxidant property, ozone stands up as an emerging fumigant for controlling insects and pests. In that vein, the key focus of this study is to find the effectiveness of ozone as an alternative fumigant in grain storage, fruits, vegetable, and spices whereby 100% mortality was achieved in most insect species. An inquisitive investigation on the insect inactivation mechanism, effects on mortality, challenges in bulk storage, and quality changes are discussed. A brief comparison of ozone with other chemical fumigants and techniques confirmed its profound usage as a greener alternative fumigant.