Effective aerosol treatment of mould mites and onion thrips in tissue culture

Abstract

Ethyl formate applied as an aerosol killed almost 100 of the mould mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae) present in tissue culture tubs Mite mortality showed dose responses to the chemical and mortality increased with duration of exposure Other aerosol formulations and vacuum and controlled atmosphere treatments were also tested but were not effective in controlling mites Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) in open and closed tissue culture tubs were killed by ethyl formate 65 and 85 CO₂ atmospheres or dichlorvos plus CO₂ propellant Further work is needed to define effective dose rates and exposure times and to determine the possible phytotoxicity of the aerosols to various plant species