Mechanisms that result in synergistic enhancement of the toxicity of phosphine, an agricultural fumigant

Phosphine is an agricultural fumigant that may soon be rendered ineffective due to phosphine-resistant insect pests of stored grain.

We have identified a new fumigant that is a potent synergist of phosphine toxicity.

We don't know the mode of action of the synergism, but we have identified a range of genes and additional chemicals that also are synergistic with phosphine.

These genes and additional chemicals will be used to identify the genetic pathways that contribute to synergism between phosphine and the new fumigant.

Supervisor: Associate Professor Paul Ebert