United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Amend PPQ Treatment Manual to Add a Methyl 

Bromide Treatment for Cottonseed (Gossypium spp.)

Treatment Evaluation Document (TED)

Date: April 12, 2012

Treatments, Pests, Commodities and Countries

New Treatment/ 

Revision/Deletion 

Treatment Type Target Pests Commodity 

Applicable

Country(ies) of 

origin

New Treatment MB Treatment Fusarium 

oxysporum f. sp. 

vasinfectum

Cottonseed All 

Objective: To provide supporting information and justification for changes being 

proposed to phytosanitary treatments in the PPQ Treatment Manual. The change, which 

will facilitate trade of cottonseed for food or feed from countries/areas infested with 

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (FOV), is being made because new data 

demonstrate the efficacy of the treatment against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum

(FOV) strains VCG 01111 and VCG 01112 on cottonseed. 

Overview: Currently APHIS uses methyl bromide (MB) fumigation as a phytosanitary 

treatment for pink bollworm (Pectinophora spp.) in cottonseed (bulk, sacked, or 

packaged) as well as other cotton commodities. Australia is seeking market access for 

their cottonseed and has submitted research information in support of methyl bromide 

treatment for this commodity (Horitos, 2001 and 2002).

Evaluation: APHIS evaluated these data and has recommended regulatory approval of a 

new treatment based on the data. The evaluation and recommendation for approval is as 

follows.

Addition of a methyl bromide treatment for cottonseed for Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.

vasinfectum (FOV) strains VCG 01111 and 01112.
2

Based on the data submitted by Haritos (2001, 2002) on cottonseed, we accept and 

propose the following treatment schedule to treat cotton seed for FOV (Fusarium 

oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum) strains 01111 and 01112 when imported to the U.S. from 

Australia:

• 7 lbs. per 1000 cubic feet at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or above for 24 hours, or

• 5 lbs. per 1000 cubic feet at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or above for 48 hours.

Temperature

Dosage Rate 

(lbs./1,000 

ft3

)

Minimum Concentration Readings 

(ounces) at:

2 hrs 4 hrs 6 hrs 12 hrs 24 hrs 36 

hrs

48 

hrs

40 oF or above 7 lbs 60 50 50 35 20

5 lbs 20 20 20 15 15 15

The proposed treatments listed above are similar to those of T301-a-2, which is an 

APHIS approved treatment against Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora spp.) for cottonseed 

and other cotton commodities. The proposed treatment will employ a longer duration 

than T301-a-2 in order to control FOV strains 01111 and 01112. 

Other conditions as described in 7CFR305.5 also apply.

Decision: Amend PPQ Treatment Manual to add the above proposed treatment for 

cotton seed for FOV (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum) strains 01111 and 01112.

Author: 

Marc Phillips

Import Specialist

USDA APHIS PPQ PHP

References:

Haritos, V. 2001. Assessment of methyl bromide efficacy towards Fusarium oxysporum

in fuzzy cottonseed. Globex International/Grainco Australia Ltd. Queensland, Australia. 

34 pp.

Haritos, V., Bentley, S., Dojchinov, G., Gulino, L., O’Neill, W., Pattermore, J., and 

Summerell, B. 2002. Laboratory Investigation of the Efficacy of Methyl Bromide against 

Fusarium spp. Infecting Cottonseed. CSIRO Entomology, Canberra, Australia. 34 pp.