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Abstract

The effect of different gamma radiation doses on different developmental stages of some important storage — pests were investigated with the results indicating that maximum 0.7kGy of gamma radiation can control them in all the developmental stages. Three major groups of products namely cereals, pulses and nuts were investigated as far as storage — pests were concerned. Investigated, belonged to the Lepidoptera and Coleoptera orders. From order Lepidoptera, Angoumois grain moth Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier), Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella (Hbn) and Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) were chosen, while from order Coleoptera, Red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Khapra beetle Trogoderma granarium (Everts), Lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius), Cowpea weevil Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) and Saw - toothed grain beetle Oryzaephillous surinamensis (Linnaeus) were investigated. For each insect at the four stages of egg, larvae, pupa and adult, control as well as irradiated treatments were observed and compared. Each treatment was replicated three times. The gamma-cell used in this project was Issledovatel type PX — 30, Russian facility with the activity of 4.5 kCi and Dose rate of
0.65 Gy/s. Ferric dosimetry system was used for the facility. Results obtained for Lepidoptera and Coleoptera were as follows:
Lepidoptera Coleoptera
Egg 110-200 Gy Egg 20-300Gy
Larva 150-650Gy Larva 50-600Gy
Pupa 100-450Gy Pupa 100-700Gy
Adult 250-650Gy Adult 150-500Gy

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