| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立中興大學 === 昆蟲學系所 === 96 === The increasing trade worldwide also increases the risk of pest outbreak in many uninfested areas. Many quarantine treatments are environmentally unsound and has obstacles in finding a balance to kill insect pests and minimizing adverse effects on the host commodities. Irradiation has been recognized and endorsed as a potential phytosanitary measure that could be an alternative to current quarantine treatments. A dosage of 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 Gy (Grays) were used to irradiate three different life stages (eggs, crawlers and adult life stages) of Planococcus minor, with an aim to find the most tolerant stage and the most optimum dosage to control P. minor. Cobalt 60 was the source of irradiation used. Irradiation has a significant effect on all life stages of P. minor, decreasing its’ mortality, fecundity, oviposition and hatch rate. The adult was the most tolerant life stage in both mortality and hatch rate. All the different irradiated target life stage groups oviposited eggs but none of the eggs hatched at the most optimum dosage, 150 to 250 Gy. In this study, a dosage of 150 - 250 Gy could provide quarantine security for P. minor on all exported commodities. Custard apples (Annona squamosa) were also treated with 250 Gy and its quality was not affected by irradiation.
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