Cold plasma for insect pest control: Tribolium castaneum mortality and defense mechanisms in response to treatment

Abstract

The insecticidal properties and mechanisms of high-voltage air-based atmospheric cold plasma using a contained dielectric barrier discharge reactor were investigated against Tribolium castaneum as an important bio-contaminant in stored grains spoilage. The mortality of 95.0%-100% for preadult stages can be achieved within seconds of treatment, but longer plasma exposure (5 min) is required to kill adult insects. Cold plasma treatment reduces both the respiration rate and the weight of insects and affects the levels of oxidative stress markers in adult populations. Sufficient toxicity is achievable through plasma process control in air to address the range of insect lifecycle stages that are disease vectors and pose risks for grain stability in storage. Balancing insecticidal activity with grains' quality retention can provide a route to sustainable integrated pest management.

Enhanced Fruiting Body Production and Bioactive Phytochemicals from White Cordyceps militaris by Blending Cordyceps militaris and Using Cold Plasma Jet

“…This nding indicates that CPJ treatment plays an essential role in decreasing oxidative damage and maintaining normal physiological and metabolic activities that promote fruiting body production and cordycepin values in blended C. militaris. Similar results previously showed that cold air plasma also stimulated SOD and GST activities in T. castaneum [40].…”

“…Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites that have been widely isolated in various plants, such as phenolic acids, avonoids, stilbenes, lignans, and tannins [40]. These compounds are free radical scavengers for stabilizing oxidative stress and protecting biological macromolecules from environmental stress conditions.…”

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

“…Abd El-Azis et al ( 2014 ) reported that cold plasma led to oxidative damage in the Indian meal moth caused by generated reactive-oxygen species. Findings from Ziuzina et al ( 2021 ) showed that cold plasma treatment reduces both the respiration rate and the weight in the red flour beetle and affects the levels of oxidative stress markers in adults. However, up to now it is questionable to what extent findings obtained in holometabolous insects, which are significantly larger than PRM and have a heavily sclerotized cuticle, can be readily transferred to PRM.…”

In‐package cold plasma treatment to extend the shelf life of food

“…Ramanan et al (2018) investigated the effect of dielectric barrier cold plasma treatment on T. castaneum pest in wheat flour processing; they found that the cold plasma treatments can induce a 100% mortality rate in all its life cycle stages (egg, larva, and adult stages) within 15 min at 2500 V. Plasma treated wheat flour has shown a complete reduction of infestation and lipase activity within 30 min treatment in a Bell Jar type of plasma apparatus (Sutar et al, 2021). The T. castaneum has shown a 95.0%-100% mortality stage in the preadult stage within seconds of cold plasma exposure and showed complete mortality in adults after 5 min (Ziuzina et al, 2021). The Plodia interpunctella was treated with different plasma treatment conditions, and it showed a significant mortality rate in larval and pupae stages and malformations in adults while increasing the plasma pulse (15 pulses) and decreasing the nozzle distance (11 cm) (Abd El-Aziz et al, 2014).…”

“…Cold plasma treatment also disrupts respiratory function, metabolic processes, mating behavior, and feeding patterns, leading to population declines. This effect of cold plasma treatment can be exploited in the seed industry and seed storage facilities, which are highly susceptible to insect infestation (Ziuzina et al., 2021).…”