QUANTITATIVE-ANALYSIS OF PHEROMONE PRODUCTION IN IRRADIATED CARIBBEANFRUIT-FLY MALES, ANASTREPHA SUSPENSE (LOEW)

Pheromonal volatiles emitted by irradiated and control 5- to 11-day-ol d Caribbean fruit flies, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), were collected on Tenax adsorbent filters and quantified by gas chromatography (GC). Th e components released were identified by comparison of retention times on GC and by mass spectrometry (MS) with authentic synthetic standard s. Pharate adults were irradiated with gamma rays from a Co-60 source at a dose rate of 10.3 Gray (Gy)/min. The total dosages given were 30, 50, 70, and 100 Gy. Pheromone volatiles were collected from adult mal es when they were between 5 and 11 days of age. The compounds quantifi ed were (Z)-3-nonenol and (Z,Z)-3,6-nonadienol, which eluted from the GC column together and were quantified as one peak, beta-bisabolene, s uspensolide, anastrephin, and epianastrephin. Irradiation with 30 Gy d id not significantly reduce any pheromonal components, nor did it chan ge the pheromonal blend. In contrast, suspensolide and bisabolene were significantly reduced in flies irradiated with 50 Gy, while the nonen ols and epianastrephin were reduced at the 70-Gy dose. Irradiation wit h the 100-Gy dose reduced all components with the exception of suspens olide.