Helicoverpa armigera is a serious polyphagous pest inflicting losses to various kinds of food crops. Among dis-infestation methods, methyl bromide (MeBr) has been widely used in quarantine treatments. However, after regulation as ozone depleting substance, MeBr is restricted in use. Phytosanitary irradiation has been suggested as an useful alternative to MeBr. In this study, H. armigera adults were irradiated with 400 Gy which was decided as a critical dose to the adults by the preliminary experiments. The irradiated females and males were mated reciprocally with fresh ones. Some of the both sexes were subjected to comet assay to determine the degree of DNA damage by gamma ray irradiation. There was no significant difference in fecundity among mates. However the irradiation significantly affected hatchability of F1 eggs. No F1 eggs hatched in the mate of treated female (TF) x treated male (TM). Hatchability of F1 eggs from TF x UM (untreated male) and UF x TM mates were 0.3% and 1.1%, respectively. A few larvae from UF x TM mate developed up to adults. Comet assay indicated that gamma-ray irradiation is efficient in damaging male's DNA than female's which may be the cause of dramatic decrease in F1 hatchability.

• Chung Gyoo Park(Division of Applied Life Sciences (BK21+), Institute of Life Science, Gyeongsang National University)
• Sin Ae Jang(Institute of Life Science, Gyeongsang National University)
• Yoon-A Joo(Department of Plant Medicine, Gyeongsang National University)
• Junheon Kim(Division of Applied Life Sciences (BK21+))
• Miyeon Jang(Division of Applied Life Sciences (BK21+))