title: Evaluating irradiation dose for sterility induction and quality control of mass-produced fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni (Diptera: Tephritidae).
abstract: The sterile insect technique has been routinely used to eradicate fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) incursions. This study considers whether fly quality in a mass-rearing facility can be improved by reducing irradiation doses, without sacrificing reproductive sterility. Pupae were exposed to one of five target irradiation dose ranges: 0, 40-45, 50-55, 60-65, and 70-75 Gy. Pupae were then assessed using routine quality control measures: flight ability, sex ratio, longevity under nutritional stress, emergence, and reproductive sterility. Irradiation did not have a significant effect on flight ability or sex ratio tests. Longevity under nutritional stress was significantly increased at 70-75 Gy, but no other doses differed from 0 Gy. Emergence was slightly reduced in the 50-55, 60-65, and 70-75 Gy treatments, but 40-45 Gy treatments did not differ from 0 Gy, though confounding temporal factors complicate interpretation. Reproductive sterility remained acceptable (> 99.5%) for all doses--40-45 Gy (99.78%), 50-55 Gy (100%), 60-65 Gy (100%), and 70-75 Gy (99.99%). We recommend that B. tryoni used in sterile insect technique releases be irradiated at a target dose of 50-55 Gy, providing improved quality and undiminished sterility in comparison with the current 70-75 Gy standard while also providing a substantial buffer against risk of under dosing.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Dominiak
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sundaralingam
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Fanson
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Banos
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005426:Flight, Animal / Q000528:radiation effects; D008136:Longevity / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D011679:Pupa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D011786:Quality Control; D012098:Reproduction / Q000528:radiation effects; D012744:Sex Ratio; D033621:Tephritidae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*