Combination of Gamma and Infrared Radiation for Control of the Angoumois Grain Moth in Wheat23

Abstract

Samples of soft red winter wheat containing known ages of eggs, larvae, or pupae of Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) were irradiated with gamma and/or microwave radiation. Representatives of each age group received the following treatments: (1) no radiation (controls), (2) microwave radiation, (3) gamma radiation, (4) microwave radiation followed by gamma radiation, or (5) gamma radiation followed by microwave radiation. Effectiveness of the treatments was based on percent adult emergence. An average reduction in emergence of 54 and 74% was observed following gamma and microwave radiation, respectively. The calculated expected reduction was 88% for combination treatments of either sequence. The sequence of radiation treatments did not influence the average effectiveness of the combinations. When the gamma treatment was followed by microwave radiation, the average reduction in emergence was 96%; when microwave radiation was followed by gamma radiation, the average reduction was 97%.