Study on the phytosanitary treatment of harvested litchi fruits against infestation control of three lepidopterian fruit borers

Insects are more radio resistant than higher vertebrates. The sensitivity to radiation varies widely among the insects orders, e.g. some species sterilized at doses below 50Gy. While lepidoptera requires more than 400Gy (IDIDAS, 2010). The use of phytosanitary treatment for sterilize insects to control or eradicate insect pests population is a revolutionary initiative in entomology. Because phytosanitary treatment through radiation is effective against most insects at dose levels that do not affect the quality of fruits. It is the ideal technology to disinfestion while maintaining excellence of fruit quality. Platypedla illepida. Platypepla ombordlta and Conmpomorpla sinensis are internal feeding insect pests that typically infesting 15-30% of the litchi fruit crop. In the phytosanitary treatment rays from radioactive substances could induce genetic damage and a large number of dominant lethal mutations. Which were exposed through a reduction in the hatchability of the eggs laid by the treated males. The effect of radiation can be produce abnormalities, reduction of adult life span, flight ability, mating propensity, nutrition and ultimately death of the fruit borers. (FAO/1AEA/USDA, 2003)