Gómez-Simuta Yeudiel, Pérez-Staples Diana, Díaz-Fleischer Francisco, Quintero-Fong Luis, Orozco-Dávila Dina, Contreras-Navarro Yair, Toledo Jorge
Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Posgrado en Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
Programa Nacional de Moscas de la Fruta, Programa operativo de moscas, SADER-SENASICA, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico.
J Econ Entomol. 2025 Sep 9. doi: 10.1093/jee/toaf186.
Ionizing radiation is widely used in insect sterilization for pest control using the Sterile Insect Technique, which consists of the mass rearing of insects and their irradiation with gamma rays to release them in target areas where they will mate with wild females. However, there is a concern and controversy about the nuclear origin applied in this technique. One alternative for sterilization is the use of X-rays, which do not have a nuclear origin, are easier to operate, and do not generate radioactive waste. Here, we compared the sexual competitiveness of Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae) males irradiated with gamma or X-radiation, and their sperm transfer ability. Mating frequency was similar between gamma and X-ray-irradiated males, but higher for wild males. However, the amount of sperm in females mated with X-ray-irradiated males was lower than that of females mated with gamma-irradiated males. Males irradiated with X-rays, mating for a third consecutive time, transferred fewer sperm than males irradiated with gamma rays. Females mating with X-ray irradiated males were more likely to remate than females mated to gamma irradiated or wild males. Overall, males sterilized with X-rays were as sexually competitive as males sterilized with gamma radiation; however, lower sperm transfer and higher remating with females suggest the need to perform dosimetries for X ray-treated males at a lower dose to increase performance. X-rays could be used as an alternative to gamma rays in the application of the SIT for A. ludens. Further research into the effects of X-rays on the male ejaculate, female fertility, and remating is needed.
电离辐射广泛应用于采用昆虫不育技术进行害虫防治的昆虫绝育，该技术包括大量饲养昆虫并用伽马射线对其进行辐照，然后将它们释放到目标区域，在那里它们将与野生雌性交配。然而，对于该技术中使用的核源存在担忧和争议。绝育的一种替代方法是使用X射线，X射线没有核源，操作更简便，且不会产生放射性废物。在此，我们比较了经伽马射线或X射线辐照的墨西哥按实蝇雄虫的性竞争力及其精子传递能力。伽马射线和X射线辐照的雄虫的交配频率相似，但野生雄虫的交配频率更高。然而，与经X射线辐照的雄虫交配的雌虫体内的精子数量低于与经伽马射线辐照的雄虫交配的雌虫。连续第三次交配时，经X射线辐照的雄虫传递的精子比经伽马射线辐照的雄虫少。与经X射线辐照的雄虫交配的雌虫比与经伽马射线辐照的雄虫或野生雄虫交配的雌虫更有可能再次交配。总体而言，用X射线绝育的雄虫与用伽马射线绝育的雄虫具有相同的性竞争力；然而精子传递量较低以及与雌虫的再次交配率较高表明，需要对经X射线处理的雄虫采用较低剂量进行剂量测定以提高性能。在对墨西哥按实蝇应用昆虫不育技术时，X射线可作为伽马射线的替代方法。需要进一步研究X射线对雄虫射精、雌虫生育力和再次交配的影响。
