Control of insect coffee bean weevils in Angelicae Dahuricae Radix storage by ozone treatment and its effect on the quality of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix

The coffee bean weevil (Araecerus fasciculatus (De Geer)) is a storage pest with extreme destructive power that seriously harms Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, which has high medicinal value. Ozone (O₃), an eco-friendly fumigant with rapid decomposition and residue-free properties, offers a promising alternative to conventional chemical pesticides. This study systematically evaluated the fumigation efficacy of O₃ against adult A. fasciculatus and its impact on Angelicae Dahuricae Radix quality parameters. Results demonstrated complete mortality (100 %) in adult cohorts within 12 days post-exposure to 333.3 ppm O₃ for 10 min, accompanied by rapid induction of flight incapacity and suppressed behavioral reactivity. Crucially, O₃ treatment at ≤ 333.3 ppm preserved the chromatic stability of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix and maintained the pharmacologically active coumarin constituents - imperatorin, oxypeucedanin, and bergapten - within quality control thresholds. Therefore, this study suggests that an appropriate concentration of O₃ can be developed as a fumigant for the control of adult coffee bean weevils, a storage pest of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix.