PESTS AND PESTICIDES

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RESEARCH PROJECT PLAN:

Effects of EDB(Ethylene dibromide) on quality of fresh strawberries.

SPECIFIC GOAL: Determine effects of EDB fumigation of strawberry plants on the ultimate quality of fresh strawberries, taking into account the chemistry and environmental fate of EDB and its possible interactions with plant tissues.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

  • EDB (until recently [mid-80's]) was commonly used as a soil fumigant for strawberries, citrus fruits, and some grains. [Its use was sharply curtailed due to evidence of liver/kidney toxicity, possible carcinogenesis, and the discovery that, under some circumstances, it can be leached into groundwater supplies.]

    EDB is one of my "favorite" pesticides because I lived in an area of EDB-contaiminated groundwater when I had my first job in environmental health (Lacey/Olympia/Tumwater area, WA.

  • EDB is normally applied as a gas; it is heavier than air (MW=187.88 vs MW of N2 gas=28+/-), and slightly soluble in water (0.404g/100g at 20C)
  • EDB is broken down by soil microbes into ethylene gas and free bromide ion.
  • The literature suggests that EDB itself is not taken up by plant root systems, but bromide ion is.
  • EDB is also used as a sequestrant (chelating agent in leaded gasoline. This makes sense given its chemical structure:

    • DETERMINATION OF OUTCOME:

    Random samples of apparently-mature berries from each plot will be analyzed 21, 28, and 35 days after EDB treatment or non-treatment. Only intact, unbruised berries will be analyzed. Each sample will be analyzed for:

  • Color (colorimetry reading)
  • EDB concentration in berry tissue water (HPLC)
  • Bromine (bromide ion) content
  • Ethylene content
  • ACC synthase activity (to assess whether ethylene production is altered as opposed to ethylene concentration)

    • Storage characteristics of ripe berries will be determined by cold-holding at 2C for 1-2 weeks, looking for onset of tissue degradation (softness, soft rot). Results will be statistically analyzed for significant differences from control, and for trend effect from low to high concentrations.

    Reference

    http://ace.orst.edu/cgi-bin/mfs/01/pips/ethyldib.p93

    REFERENCES
    REPRINTS, COPIES
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    Updated: Monday, August 27, 2007.

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