Effects of gamma radiation on Pupue of Plutella xylostella to phytosanitary treatment

Tropical and subtropical countries such as Brazil are the ones that suffer most under the attack of insects, due to the ecological conditions of high temperature and relative humidity. The most important insect pests of stored products belong to the order Lepidoptera, which are butterflies. The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella is one of the most serious pests of cultivated Brassicaceae. It is cited as being the first crop insect to become resistant to dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), and it has been found to have developed resistance to many other field insecticides, it is also reported to be the first insect to develop resistance to the bacterial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis. The objective of this part of our research investigation is to determine of lethal and sterilizing doses of gamma radiation for pupae of Plutella xylostella and establish an appropriate phytosanitary irradiation treatment against this pest. (author)