Developmental inhibition and DNA damage of Helicoverpa armigera Huber (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) by gamma radiation

Purpose: Gamma radiation on Helicoverpa armigera Hubner was performed to assess developmental inhibition and to identify a potential quarantine treatment dose of the radiation.Materials and methods: Gamma radiation (Co-60) treatment at different doses of 50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 Gy was carried out with egg, larvae, pupae and adults of H. armigera.Results: Gamma radiation induced developmental inhibition of all stages of H. armigera. The effective dose values required for inhibition 99% (ED99) of hatching, pupation and adult emergence from the irradiated eggs were 550.7, 324.9 and 136.4 Gy, respectively. ED99 values for inhibition of the larvae to adult emergence was 200.0 Gy. Irradiation on pupae could not completely inhibit adult emergence even at 400 Gy. ED99 value for inhibition of F-1 egg hatchability from the irradiated adults was estimated to be 229.5 Gy.Conclusions: This study suggests that gamma radiation is a possible alternative to phytosanitary treatments. Irradiation treatment with minimum dose of 200 Gy can be suggested as optimum dose for larval treatment in quarantine.