Ionizing irradiation can be used as an alternative to chemical fumigants for disinfestation of cut flowers, agricultural products, seeds, foods, medical products, and spices. In this study, we investigated the effect of electron beam irradiation on reproduction and development in Spodoptera litura. When irradiated to the adults, there was no difference in fecundity. However, egg hatching was considerably decreased. When irradiated to the pupae, fecundity was decreased as dose increased and wing deformity of newly emerged adults was increased as time passed. When irradiated to the larvae, developmental period and pupa deformity was significantly increased. In order to investigate the molecular mechanism of sterility and abnormal development, we performed quantitative real-time PCR and SDS-PAGE.

In this study, we investigated the effects of X-ray irradiation to control six important insect pests of floriculture crops: Liriomyza trifolii, Spodoptera litura, Myzus persicae, Tetranychus urticae, Bemisia tabaci, and Frankliniella intonsa. We irradiated on six insect pests that were placed in different positions (top, middle, and bottom) of export flower boxes after filling the boxes with roses and chrysanthemums, respectively. When irradiated with X-ray of 150 Gy, the eggs of T. urticae, B. tabaci, F. intonsa, L. trifolii, and S. litura were prevented from hatching at every position in the boxes. The pupation and emergence of L. trifolii larvae and S. litura larvae and B. tabaci nymphs and F. intonsa nymphs were inhibited at every position in the boxes. However, the emergence of T. urticae and M. persicae nymphs was not inhibited, even at the top position in the boxes. When pupae were irradiated, the emergence of L. trifolii was inhibited at every position in the boxes, while S. litura was not inhibited completely, even at the top position in the boxes. When adult T. urticae, S. litura, and L. trifolii were irradiated, the hatching rate of the F1 generation was not completely inhibited at every position. The insect pests that were not inhibited completely at the dose of 150 Gy showed much higher inhibitory effects at the dose of 250 Gy. Therefore, the dose of X-ray irradiation required to inhibit may vary according to the types of flowers and insect pests and according to their positions within the boxes.

The effect of electron beam irradiation on development and reproduction of susceptible strain (S) and imidacloprid-resistance strain (IMI-R) of Aphis gossypii were compared. Nymphs and adults of S and IMI-R strain were irradiated at target doses of 50, 100, 150, and 200 Gy. When nymphs were irradiated, emergence rate was not affected at all target dose, but number of F1 nymphs was perfectly inhibited at 150 Gy in both strains when irradiated to the adults, longevity slightly decrease at 150 Gy and above. Fecundity was strongly decreased at 100 Gy, but was not completely inhibited even at 200 Gy. Emergence rate of F1 nymph was decreased at 100 Gy and completely inhibited at 200 Gy. However, there was no significant differences on development and reproduction of S and IMI-R strain. We also conducted the comet assay immediately after irradiation and over the following 7 day periods. In addition, we performed quantitative real-time PCR on several genes.

The effect of electron beam irradiation on development and reproduction of imidacloprid-resistant (R strain) and -susceptible (S strain) Aphis gossypii were compared. Nymphs and adults of R and S strain were irradiated at target doses of 50, 100, 150, and 200 Gy. When nymphs were irradiated, emergence was not affected at all target dose, but number of F1 nymph was perfectly inhibited at 150 Gy in both strains. When irradiated to the adults, longevity slightly decrease at 150 Gy and above. Fecundity was strongly decreased at 100 Gy, but was not completely inhibited even at 200 Gy. Emergence of F1 nymph was decreased at 100 Gy and completely inhibited at 200 Gy. However, there were no significant differences on development and reproduction of R and S strain. We also conducted the comet assay immediately after irradiation and over the following 10 day period. Severe DNA fragmentation in A. gossypii cells was observed just after irradiation and the damage was repaired during the post-irradiation period in a time-dependent manner. These results suggest that electron beam irradiation induced abnormal development, reproduction, and DNA damage in A. gossypii, but there were no significant differences between R and S strain.

The effects of electron beam irradiation on life stage and reproduction of Spodoptera litura were examined. Eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults were irradiated at target doses of 30, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 Gy. When eggs were irradiated with 100 Gy, egg hatching was completely inhibited. When irradiated to the larvae, pupation was inhibited at 100 Gy and larval period was delayed. When irradiated to the pupae, emergence was inhibited at over 100 Gy. When irradiated to the adults, longevity and fecundity did not show any differences. However, egg hatching was significantly decreased at 100 Gy and above. Also, electron beam irradiation was not induced the rapid death of S. litura. Reciprocal crosses between irradiated and unirradiated moths demonstrated that males were more radiotolerant than females. Adult longevity was not affected in all stages. The levels of DNA damage in S. litura adults were evaluated using the alkaline comet assay. Our results indicate that electron beam irradiation increased levels of DNA damage. The recovery of DNA damage in S. litura adults increased as time passed. but DNA damage hasn’t recovered fully. These results indicate that electron beam irradiation induced abnormal development and reproduction by DNA damage in S. litura. and as time goes by, the DNA damage was decresed.

The influence of electron beam irradiation on each developmental stage and reproduction of Spodoptera litura were examined. Eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults were irradiated at target doses of 30, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 Gy. When eggs were irradiated with 100 Gy, egg hatching was perfectly inhibited. When irradiated to the larvae, pupation was inhibited at 100 Gy and larval period was delayed. When irradiated to the pupae, emergence was inhibited at 100 Gy and above. When irradiated to the adults, longevity and fecundity did not show any differences. However, egg hatching was strongly decreased at 100 Gy and above. Also, electron beam irradiation was not induced the instantaneous death of S. litura. Reciprocal crosses between irradiated and unirradiated moths demonstrated that males were more radiotolerant than females. Adult longevity was not affected in all stages. The levels of DNA damage in S. litura adults were evaluated using the alkaline comet assay. Our results indicate that electron beam irradiation increased levels of DNA damage. These results suggest that electron beam irradiation induced abnormal development and reproduction by DNA damage in S. litura.

The effects of electron beam irradiation on development and reproduction of Spodoptera litura were examined. Eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults were irradiated at target doses of 30, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 Gy. When eggs were irradiated with 100 Gy, egg hatching was perfectly inhibited. When irradiated to the larvae, pupation was inhibited at 100 Gy and larval period was delayed. When irradiated to the pupae, emergence was inhibited at 100 Gy and above. When irradiated to the adults, longevity and fecundity did not show any differences. However, egg hatching was strongly decreased at 100 Gy and above. Also, electron beam irradiation was not induced the instantaneous death of S. litura. The levels of DNA damage in S. litura adults were evaluated using the alkaline comet assay. Our results indicate that electron beam irradiation increased levels of DNA damage. These results suggest that electron beam irradiation induced abnormal development and reproduction by DNA damage in S. litura.

The American serpentine leafminer fly, Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess), is one of the most destructive polyphagous pests world wide. In this study, we determined electron beam doses for inhibition of normal development of the L. trifolii and investigated the effect of electron beam irradiation on DNA damage and p53 stability. Eggs, larvae, pupae and adults were irradiated with increasing doses of electron beam irradiation (six levels ranges from 30 to 200 Gy). At 150 Gy, the number of adults that developed from irradiated eggs, larvae and pupae was lower than those of untreated control. Fecundity and egg hatchability decreased depending on the doses applied. Reciprocal crosses between irradiated and unirradiated flies demonstrated that males were more radiotolerant than females. Adult longevity was not affected in all stages. The levels of DNA damage in L. trifolii adults were evaluated using the alkaline comet assay. Our results indicate that electron beam irradiation increased levels of DNA damage in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, low doses of electron beam irradiation led to the rapid appearance of p53 protein with in 6 h; however, it decreased after exposure to high doses (150 Gy and 200 Gy). These results suggest that electron beam irradiation induced not only abnormal development and reproduction but also p53 stability caused by DNA damage in L. trifolii. We conclude that a minimum dose of 150 Gy should be sufficient for sterilization of L. trifolii.

The purpose of this work was to study the effects of electron beam irradiation on development and reproduction and evaluate the DNA damage in Plutella xylostella. Adults and pupae of P. xylostella were irradiated with 30, 50 and 100 Gy electron beam. Hatchability and fecundity of adults declined as increased irradiation doses. When pupae were irradiated with 100 Gy, fecundity of emerged adults significantly decreased and no eggs hatched. However, the adults longevity and emergence of pupae did not change. Assessment of DNA damage in cells obtained from adults and pupae of P. xylostella was carried out using single-cell electrophoresis (comet assay). Electron beam-radiated adults and pupae showed that tail length and percentage of DNA damage at all the doses were significantly larger than the control batch. Our results suggest that electron beam induces sterility through the DNA damage and this technique could contribute to analytical identification of an effective disinfestation and quarantine treatment.