The inherited sterility of the corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis Guen.)

The inherited sterility of the Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis Guen.) irradiated with substerilizing doses of 200-300 Gy has been studied in Beijing, China. The irradiated male parents were substerile and females were fully sterile. The females were more sensitive to radiation. Experiments for mating competitiveness and release from field cages demonstrated that the irradiated male moths had a stronger level of competitiveness, and it was found that a ratio of 1:5 or more could suppress the native population effectively. The F1 generation was more sterile than the parents and the sex ratio was changed to significantly more males than females. Inherited sterility could be maintained up to the F2 generation and fertility recovered in the F3 generation. (author). 5 refs, 1 fig., 7 tabs