INHERITED EFFECTS IN F1 PROGENY OF PARTIALLY STERILE MALE PHTHORIMAEA-OPERCULELLA (LEPIDOPTERA, GELECHIIDAE)

Adult male Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), were exposed to substeril izing doses of gamma irradiation: 100, 150, and 200 Gy. Inherited effe cts in the F-1 progeny of irradiated male parents were examined. Mean developmental time and the percentage mortality of the F-1 progeny, at each examined dose, were higher than that of the control group. Moreo ver, the sex ratio of the F-1 progeny was skewed in favor of the males . Mean longevity, fecundity, and the percentage fertility of the F-1 p rogeny were lower than those of their parents and the control group. M ating ability and the frequency of mating of F-1 adults were similar t o those of their partially sterile male parents and the control. The g enetic basis of the F-1 characteristics has been discussed. The use of substerilizing doses of irradiation could be considered as an importa nt component in a potato tuber moth-control strategy.