Comparison between the penetration characteristics of methyl bromide and ethanedinitrile through the bark of pine (Pinus radiata D.Don) logs

BACKGROUND Ethanedinitrile (EDN) is a fumigant being commercialized worldwide as an alternative phytosanitary treatment to methyl bromide (MB) for forest products. The penetration characteristics of MB and EDN were measured through the bark of wooden blocks (100 × 100 × 50 mm) cut from the upper (average bark thickness 5 ± 2 mm) and lower (average bark thickness 25 ± 5 mm) trunk of recently felled pine (Pinus radiata D.Don) trees. Doses of 48 g m−3 MB and 50 g m−3 EDN were applied to chambers at 10 and 20°C for 10 h. RESULTS Penetration of MB was influenced by the interaction between fumigation time and temperature, with concentrations increasing at a higher rate at 20°C compared with at 10°C. After 10 h, an average concentration of 8.05 ± 0.89 g m−3 had penetrated the bark of log sections at 20°C, whereas 5.20 ± 0.89 g m−3 was measured at 10°C. By contrast, the factors examined in this study did not significantly impact the penetration of EDN. Concentration × time (CT) values for MB under the bark were 35.20 ± 2.30 g h m−3 at 10°C and 55.85 ± 9.58 g h m−3 at 20°C; whereas for EDN, CT values were 19.50 ± 6.80 g h m−3 at 10°C and 19.08 ± 4.10 g h m−3 at 20°C. CONCLUSION MB can achieve a higher concentration under the bark of log sections during simulated fumigations, but all of the factors examined affected the ability of MB to penetrate the bark of wooden blocks. By comparison, the penetration of EDN through the bark is more consistent than MB under laboratory conditions. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. Methyl bromide can achieve a higher concentration under the bark of log sections during simulated fumigations. However, all the factors examined affected methyl bromide's ability to penetrate through the bark. By comparison, although penetration of ethanedinitrile through the bark of log sections was lower, it was also more consistent under the conditions tested.