EFFECTS OF GAMMA-RADIATION ON THE PROGENY OF IRRADIATED EPHESTIA-CAUTELLA (WALKER) (LEPIDOPTERA, PYRALIDAE) MALES

One-day-old P1 males of Ephestia cautella, Baghdad strain, were treated with 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25 kGy of γ radiation and mated in groups (15 pairs) with untreated virgin females. Radiation effects were assayed by determining percentage of egg hatch, mating ability and F1 sex ratio. Our results showed the greater the initial dose, the greater the reduction in the percent egg hatch, and the greater the male-to-female ratio. Radiation effects on F1 males were greater than the effect on the P1 males. Furthermore, the results showed that the effects on F1 males were greater than the effects on F1 females. These results were confirmed cytologically by examination of the developing meiotic germ cells of F1 males which showed that the meiotic nuclei carried multiple translocations. Such chromosomal aberrations explain the sterility observed in the F1 male generation. © 1990.