Evaluate effects of hypoxia, temperature, and dose rate on efficiency of ebeam irradiation against insect pests

The proposed research activities include (1) to evaluate the effect of ebeam on fruit fly drosophila suzukii and compare our results with a recent g-radiation study. Non-radioactive ebeam will be used to conduct the research at the same dose levels and compare our results with those of radioactive sources. (2) to evaluate the impacts of dose rates and low temperature on the ebeam results. And (3) to determine whether there is an O2 threshold level that triggers radioprotection in a stored grain bruchid pest (callosobruchus maculatus) and thus reduces the efficacy of approved phytosanitary irradiation treatments. This work will be a continued collaboration with scientists in USDA aphis. The research will obtain and compare baseline efficacy information on ebeam and g-radiation technologies, which may promote the adoption and development of non-radioactive isotopic alternative technologies. The deliverable for this objective will be a comprehensive report and/or manuscript(s) summarizing the results. The results will be applicable to international trade and domestic movement of plant materials and products from areas under quarantine.