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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #202090
Title: Influence of radiation dose on the level of F1 sterility in the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Author
item Tate, Colothdian
item Carpenter, James
item BLOEM, STEPHANIE - USDA-APHIS

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/25/2007
Publication Date: 9/1/2007
Citation: Tate, C.D., Carpenter, J.E., Bloem, S. 2007. Influence of radiaton dose on the level of F1 sterility in the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Florida Entomologist. 90(3):537-544.

Interpretive Summary: We examined inherited sterility effects on 2 generations of cactus moth offspring in order to identify the dose of gamma radiation that would fully sterilize F1-generation moths and maximize production of F1 sterile cactus moths by irradiated males. Newly emerged adults of cactus moths were exposed to increasing doses of gamma radiation and inbred or out-crossed to fertile mates. Negative effects on cactus moth development from inherited sterility were expressed in the F1 generation. These effects were most pronounced when parental adults were irradiated at 200 Gy. At this dose, survival and production of fully sterile F1-generation cactus moths was greatest. Maximum production of sterile F1 adults at 200 Gy suggests this is the most appropriate dose for implementing the sterile insect technique (SIT)-F1 sterility for control of cactus moths in North America, and for testing host suitability and potential geographical range in the field.

Technical Abstract: We examined inherited sterility effects on the F1 and F2 generations of the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg), in order to identify the dose of gamma radiation that would fully sterilize F1-generation moths, which would result in no viable offspring when F1 males were inbred- or out-crossed to fertile females and maximize the production of F1 sterile C. cactorum adults by irradiated males. Newly emerged adults of C. cactorum were exposed to increasing doses of gamma radiation and inbred or out-crossed to fertile counterparts. Inherited effects resulting from irradiation of males and females were expressed in the F1 generation as reduced egg hatch, increased developmental time for the F1 egg, and increased F1 larval to adult mortality. These effects were most pronounced when parental adults were irradiated at 200 Gy. Survival of F1-generation offspring originating from irradiated male x fertile female crosses was greatest at 200 Gy. In addition, inbred- and out-crosses of surviving F1 adults, with one parent irradiated at 200 Gy, resulted in no F2 adults. Maximum production of sterile F1 adults at 200 Gy suggests this dose is the most appropriate dose for implementing the sterile insect technique (SIT)-F1 sterility for control of C. cactorum in North America and for testing host suitability and potential geographical range in the field.