Susceptibility of potato tuber moth (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) to postharvest gamma irradiation.

Gamma irradiation doses applied to inhibit potato sprouting were tested against potato tuber moth larval and pupal stages. Young larvae and pupae were more susceptible to irradiation injuries than older ones. When larvae of different ages were exposed to doses > or = 100 Gy, only 13-35% pupated, but no adult emergence was obtained. The exposure of 1-1.5- or 3-3.5-d-old pupae to 150 Gy induced high level of sterility and remarkable reduction in female mating ability and fecundity, whereas the reduction was less noticeable for 5-5.5-d-old pupae. Postharvest gamma irradiation of potatoes could be considered as an efficient control approach against potato tuber moth larval and pupal infestations.