** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS IS AN INTEGRATED PROJECT. BHADRIRAJU SUBRAMANYAM FROM KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY WILL LEAD THE PROJECT AS PROJECT DIRECTOR; KALIRAMESH SILIVERU AND XINYI E ARE TWO PROJECT CO-DIRECTORS. FLOUR MILLS ARE IDEAL HABITATS FOR STORED-PRODUCT INSECT PESTS DUE TO THE WARM TEMPERATURES AND AVAILABILITY OF FOOD. UNTIL THE PHASE OUT, METHYL BROMIDE HAD BEEN WIDELY USED TO FUMIGATE THE FLOUR MILLS FOR DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION. IN LIGHT OF FINDING NEW ALTERNATIVES, THIS PROPOSED PROJECT WILL INVESTIGATE MULTIPLE POTENTIAL IPM STRATEGIES FOR THE FLOUR MILL. CHLORINE DIOXIDE GAS, A BIOCIDE, WILL BE EVALUATED AS A POTENTIAL FLOUR MILL FUMIGANT. IN ADDITION, THE USE OF CHLORINE DIOXIDE SOLUTION DURING WHEAT TEMPERING WILL BE EVALUATED TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF DEACTIVATING PATHOGENS AND MYCOTOXINS IN WHEAT. THE EFFICACY OF FOUR INSECTICIDES INCLUDING PYRIPROXYFEN, ESFENVALERATE, Β-CYFLUTHRIN, AND DELTAMETHRIN AGAINST STORED PRODUCT INSECTS WILL BE DETERMINED WHEN APPLYING THEM AS SPRAYS TO TREAT THE FLOOR SURFACE IN FLOUR MILLS. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THESE METHODS WILL BE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ADOPTING THESE MB ALTERNATIVES IN REAL PRACTICE. THE RESULTS FROM THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL BE DELIVERED TO FOOD INDUSTRY ESPECIALLY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF OPERATIVE MILLERS (IAOM) STAKEHOLDER GROUPS THROUGH SEMINARS HELD AT ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, EXTENSION PUBLICATIONS, AND WORKSHOPS.

Kansas State University, Manhattan KS

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