(EFFECT OF GAMMA IRRADIATION ON CERTAIN BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL -;ASPECTS OF THE BLACK CUT WORM, AGROTIS IPSILON (HUFN

Abstract

Full-grown male pupae of black cut worm Agrotis ipsilon were exposed to three

doses of gamma irradiation 50, 100 and !50 Gy,. Increasing the dose of irradiation applied to the parental male gradually reduced the egg hatch. The reduction was significant at all tested doses level when compared to the control treatment. Full­ grown female pupae were exposed to three doses of gamma irradiation, the average number of eggs and percentage of egg hatch of treated female mated with untreated male was significantly reduced at all doses. However, the data indicated that the percentage of egg hatch was increased at all tested mating combination of F 1 in comparison with their P 1 • The results lead to a conclusion that sterility could be

inherited by irradiation of full grown male pupae more than irradiated full grown female pupae. The obtained results indicated that after emergence, the pheromone production and perception increase rapidly, through the first day and continue till the 5th day after emergence. The pheromone production and perception increases to reach its maximum on the second day and continues at a high titer except during the last few days of female life.. Pheromone production and perception by the black cut worm moth was considerably affected by gamma irradiation applied during the full grown male and female pupae with 50, 100 and ISO Gy. I Histological studies of sex pheromone gland of the black cut worm female moth previously irradiated as full grown male and female pupae with 50,100 and 150 Gy,

was considerably affected.

Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the effect of sub sterilizing doses on male moth antennae previously irradiated full grown male pupae. Different malformations were shown of the antennae of the parental and first generations.