Development of Real-Time Whole-Organism Biosensor System for use in post harvest, structural and quarantine fumigations.

A fumigation for the purpose of pest control is considered successful when the lethal Ct product dosage has been reached. Lethal Ct products for different insect types and life stages vary and are a function of temperature. Typically, eggs are most tolerant while adults are most susceptible. No mathematical/statistical model can ever perfectly describe all characteristics of a biological system. To confirm, bioassays have to be maintained post-fumigation under laboratory conditions and observed for up to two weeks in order to be confident that the egg stage was indeed killed. The overall project goal is to develop and commercialize real-time whole-organism biosensor technology for use as an expert control system for post-harvest, structural and quarantine fumigations. The biosensor will be based on coupling physiological and biochemical responses of a specified target organism during exposure by measuring changes in cellular respiration as a general indicator of exposure, physiological status, and toxicity. It will consist of optical sensors (optrodes) and measure the change in oxygen consumption to the point of insect egg death.