Gamma irradiation to control Corcyra cephalonica and the effect on some physical and microbiological qualities of rice

Abstract

The rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica, is one of the most economically serious stored product pests in many parts of the world. The present study aims to use a safe and eco-friendly irradiation method to disinfest rice of the insects and evaluate the effectiveness of irradiation treatments on various development stages of C. cephalonica and some quality properties of rice. The irradiation process was achieved in a Co60 - Gamma Chamber (4000 A) using the doses up to 700 Gy of gamma radiation. Radio-tolerant stage, if the prevention of egg hatching of F1 generation is the criterion for measuring the efficacy of irradiation doses. The dose level of 350 Gy was required when 5-day-old pupae were irradiated. The large-scale confirmatory tests were applied to 16,000 pupae of C. cephalonica irradiated with 350 Gy, resulting in a confidence level of 80.797% that 99.99% of eggs laid by adult irradiated as late pupae will not hatch. This irradiation dose had no significant adverse effect on rice’s physical and microbiological quality. Thus, an irradiation dose of 350 Gy is required for the disinfestation of the rice moth.