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Reduce aflatoxin contamination of tree nuts (almods, pistachios and walnuts) by minimizing insect feeding-damage that leads to infection of nut kernels by aflatoxigenic aspergilli.
Develop methods to control insect pests of tree nuts, chiefly navel orangeworm, codling moth and peach twig borer. Feeding damage by these insects leads to infection by aflatoxigenic aspergilli. Control methods are to be environmentally benign and employ semiochemicals to disrupt host-searching, meating and feeding behaviors of these insects. Host-plant volatiles (HPV's) alone, or in combination with pheromones, are disseminated into three nut orchard environments as confusants, trapping attractants or as attracticides (kairomone in combination with an insecticidal substance). New research examines insect biotransformation of aflatoxin and natural products of tree nuts that are anti-insect or anti-aflatoxigenic. <P> Replaces 5325-42000-025-00D (12/00).