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New technology of wood fumigation against bark beetle

In the last two years Draslovka a.s., VÚRV, v.v.i. (Crop Research Institute), and ČZU (Czech University of Life Sciences) have been conducting experiments with a new fumigation substance and formulation (BLUEFUME - stabilized hydrogen cyanide, and EDN) and their application to soil, seed and plant commodities, including construction, packaging and semi-processed (harvested) wood for quarantine purposes. The research was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture project (NAZV) and is currently being supported by the Ministry of Education (TACR). Of the two gases, BLUEFUME and EDN, the latter showed to be best suitable for the treatment of wooden logs (based on the chemical properties and preliminary tests in commercial conditions). In a research collaboration with the Archdiocese of Prague (Forestry administration), experimental fumigations - first in Europe - were performed in the Archdiocese forests in the first half of 2017. In the experiments, logs not yet debarked were treated with EDN under a tarp directly in the forest. The results of the initial tests of EDN fumigation performed on naturally infested conifer logs are optimistic. They have shown a high (100%) efficacy against several species of bark beetles (Ips sp., Pityogenes sp., Hylurgops sp.) and inhibition of the pest transfer from the wood after only a several-hour treatment. It is therefore interesting to ask the question whether it would be possible to use this product to decrease the negative effects of bark beetle calamities.