Radiosensitivity of two strains of the codling moth Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) originating from different elevations in Armenia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse the radiosensitivity of codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.) strains from different elevations, 850 and 2000 m above the sea level. The level of sterility of parental males and inherited sterility of F1 males in the strain from the higher elevation at all radiation doses (80, 100 and 150 Gy) was significantly lower, than in the strain from the lower elevation. The frequency of chromosomal aberrations in the F1 generation in the strain from the higher elevation was significantly lower at 80 and 150 Gy than that in strain from the lower elevation. The average number of eupyrene sperm in the F1 males descended from irradiated males was higher in the strain from the higher elevation than in the strain from the lower elevation. Inheritance of the resistance/susceptible to ionizing radiation were examined by standard genetic cross‐breeding analysis confirming the polygenic nature of the differences in radiosensitivity. The implications of these findings for the implementation of area‐wide integrated pest management programmes that integrate the use of sterile insects are discussed.

Identification of critical factors that significantly affect the dose-response in mosquitoes irradiated as pupae

“…Genetic differences representing geographical diversity could contribute to slight variations of radiosensitivity within the same species of insect but may not necessarily be the case. Only a few reports exist where such a difference has been described, and explanations for these inherent differences were hypothesized to have developed in response to external factors (such as altitude where the insects were reared) [25, 26]. Indeed, the important variable may have been the differences in size of the insects, resulting from differences in rearing.…”

Improvement of the sterile insect technique for codling moth Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera Tortricidae) to facilitate expansion of field application

“…These inter‐population differences in resistance to ionizing radiation were further examined in relation to altitude. Armenian codling moth populations from mountain regions were significantly more resistant to radiation than populations from lower altitude regions (plains and foothills) (Azizyan and Ter‐Hovhannesyan 2009). Heritability of the resistance/sensitivity to radiation was examined in field cage populations of codling moth transferred from the mountain zone to the plain zone and vice versa .…”

Anther‐smut fungi from more contaminated sites in Chernobyl show lower infection ability and lower viability following experimental irradiation

“…Much DNA damage due to radiation can be repaired, and genome integrity following radiation damage can be restored by cellular repair systems. Species vary greatly in their ability to repair radiation damage (review in Garnier‐Laplace et al., 2013; Gladyshev & Meselson, 2008; Lehmann, Boratynski, Mappes, Mousseau, & Møller, 2016; Rivasseau et al., 2013) as do populations (Azizyan & Ter‐Hovhannesyan, 2010; Cordeiro, Marques, & Veiga‐Neto, 1973) or lines within species (Vaisnav et al., 2014).…”

“…Some studies have suggested that diverse organisms, including bacteria, plants, and birds, have adapted to radiation following long‐term exposure (Kovalchuk et al, 2003, Kovalchuk, Abramov, Pogribny, & Kovalchuk, 2004, Galván et al., 2014, Ruiz‐González et al, 2016; see Geras'kin, Evseeva, & Oudalova, 2013, Møller & Mousseau, 2016 for reviews). Indeed, populations from sites with high natural levels of ionizing radiation (Azizyan & Ter‐Hovhannesyan, 2010; Cordeiro et al., 1973) or from sites contaminated with radioactivity by human activity sometimes show greater resistance to radiation (Boubriak et al., 2008; Geras’kin et al, 2005; Ruiz‐González et al., 2016) or other mutagens (Kovalchuk et al, 2004) than do those from more pristine environments. These findings, together with evolution experiments (Byrne et al., 2014), indicate that radiation resistance can evolve in response to long‐term exposure.…”