Effects of X-rays on Tuta absoluta for use in inherited sterility programmes

Abstract

Tuta absoluta is a key pest of tomato crops originating from South America. The consequences of X-radiation on this species were studied under laboratory controlled conditions. The effect of radiation on adult emergence was evaluated exposing male and female pupae to increasing X-rays. Adult emergence decreased as doses of X-radiation increased, with the appearance of deformities such as malformed wings and bent legs at doses C350 Gy. Besides, males and females obtained from irradiated pupae were out crossed with untreated counterparts to explore the effects of X-radiation on inherited sterility. (a) Irradiated male 9 untreated female crosses. Both fecundity and fertility of the untreated females were reduced by radiation, and the effect was stronger as the doses increased. Neither the longevity of parental males and F1 adults nor the sex ratios of the F1 and F2 generations were affected by X-radiation (F1 and F2: first and second generation of descendants of irradiated adults). Inherited sterility effects were manifested by a significant reduction in the F1 fecundity, F1 fertility, and the amount of larvae and pupae produced. Doses of 200-250 Gy could be used to induce inherited sterility in T. absoluta males. (b) Untreated male 9 irradiated female crosses. The minimum dose at which irradiated females were completely sterile was 200 Gy. The present study is the first study in T. absoluta that provides the starting point for implementing the inherited sterility in this species.

Tomato leafminer [(Tuta absoluta Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)] and its current ecofriendly management strategies: A review

“…It does not exert any effect on the environment and impotent approach to control especially invasive pest in an agricultural system like T. absoluta (Cagnotti et al, 2012). The radiation sterilization of insects and sterile male insect release into a wild population of the same species was expected to prevent the reproduction of wild females and practiced for pest control (Knipling, 1955).…”

“…Alternatively, X-irradiators are used for sterilization of insect pests. It is easier and independent of a radioactive source that is performed safely on insect sterility (Cagnotti et al, 2012).…”

“…When partially sterile males mate with wild fertile females their deleterious effects induced by radiation are inherited and expressed for several generations, mainly in the first generation of descendants of irradiated adults (Carpenter et al, 2005). Such practice is firstly conducted by Cagnotti et al (2012) on the T. absoluta and considered as an effective technique to control it. The optimum dose of X-radiation to make male moth sterile is between 200 and 250 Gy (Cagnotti et al, 2012).…”

“…Such practice is firstly conducted by Cagnotti et al (2012) on the T. absoluta and considered as an effective technique to control it. The optimum dose of X-radiation to make male moth sterile is between 200 and 250 Gy (Cagnotti et al, 2012). In the first generation, the egg hatching is reduced and the produced offspring becomes highly sterile (more than the irradiated parent moths) and most are male (Bloem and Carpenter, 2001;Seth and Sharma, 2001).…”

“…This includes mass trapping of male moths by using sex pheromone (Braham, 2014), using of phytochemicals, using biological agents such as parasitoids, predators, microbial cells, microbial products, small RNA interference (RNAi), inheritance sterility (IS) development in insect and pest resistant plant cultivar production approaches were applied to control T. absoluta (Van Lenteren and Bueno, 2003;Cagnotti et al, 2012;Camargo et al, 2016). Thus, the main purpose of this review was to compile important findings conducted on eco-friendly control of T. absoluta for sustainable healthy farming system.…”