Gamma radiation as a quarantine treatment for Fuller rose beetle eggs (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on citrus fruit
Johnson, J.A. | Soderstrom, E.L. | Brandl, D.G. | Houck, L.G. | Wofford, P.L.
Since 1985 when eggs of the Fuller rose beetle, Pantomorus cervinus (Boheman), were found by Japanese fruit inspectors under the calyxes of California citrus, researchers have sought to develop alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation as a suitable quarantine treatment for this pest. Three different ages of Fuller rose beetle eggs laid on waxed paper were exposed to gamma radiation doses of 10, 50, 100, and 150 Gy. The oldest age class (10-13 d old) was the least susceptible. Egg hatch of the two younger age classes (1-3 and 6-8 d old) was prevented by 50 Gy, whereas 150 Gy was needed to prevent hatch of older eggs. To confirm the efficacy of the method, lemons infested with 10- to 13-d-old Fuller rose beetle eggs were placed in the center of standard cardboard lemon cartons and irradiated at doses averaging 174.1 Gy. Egg hatch from egg clusters infesting untreated lemons averaged (mean +/- SEM) 42.5% +/- 4.66 per lemon. None of the estimated 6,500 eggs infesting irradiated lemons hatched. Damage of irradiated fruit varied but did not exceed a 6.1% increase compared with damage found in controls. These data show that irradiation of lemons could be an effective quarantine treatment against Fuller rose beetle eggs.
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