Competitiveness of Gamma-Sterilized Males of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly: Effect of Irradiating Pupal or Adult Stage and of Irradiating Pupae in Nitrogen1

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Abstract
The sterilizing effect of 1-13 krad of gamma radiation given to 2- to 6-hr-old adults of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) was established. Male sterility increased with increasing dose to reach 98 5% at 9 krad and 99.8% at 13 krad. The relationship between sterility and dose was similar to that found for males irradiated 2 days before eclosion. Above 3 krad, females produced eggs for 1 week, the number decreasing with increasing dose, and they then became infecund. When confined with untreated pairs in a 3: 1: 1: ratio, males treated With 5, 7, 9, or 11 krad 2 days before eclosion or as 2- to 6-hr-old adults reduced egg hatch to about the same extent. When males were irradiated in nitrogen 2 days before eclosion the gamma dose had to be increased by approximately 2.5 krad over that required in air to achieve a particular level of sterility. However, at the 98% level of male sterility, irradiation in nitrogen resulted in males which were 3 times more competitive than males irradiated in air.

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