@article{Sun2026, 
author = {Xiaoting Sun and Wei He and Jiajie Ma and Bo Chu and Xianming Yang and Kongming Wu},
title = {Feasibility of using X-ray to irradiate adult for control of the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta in orchards},
year = {2026},
journal = {Journal of Integrative Agriculture (JIA)},
volume = {25},
number = {10},
pages = {4257-4267},
keywords = {Grapholita molesta, sterile insect technique (SIT), X-ray, sub-sterilizing dose, mating competitiveness},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.050},
doi = {10.1016/j.jia.2025.12.050},
abstract = {The oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta Busck, is a major pest of fruit trees worldwide, it is necessary to develop green control technology instead of the traditional chemical pesticide. Although the sterile insect technique (SIT) is a safe and effective method for controlling G. molesta, the high cost of mass rearing irradiated pupae hinders its widespread adoption. In this study, we identified the optimal sub-sterilizing X-ray dose for G. molesta adults and evaluated its effects on the mating competitiveness of males, growth and reproduction of the F1 generation population, and the sterility rate of field-caught males. The results showed that the sub-sterilizing dose of 1-day-old male was 130 Gy, which rendered most males sterile (76.34%) and females nearly sterile (97.41%). Moreover, the sterile trait of the male parents that had been irradiated with 130 Gy of X-rays was successfully transmitted to the F1 generation, whose sterility rate (84.13–93.61%) exceeded that of F0 males. The F1 generation population exhibited significantly lower values for the net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ) compared to the non-irradiated group. Furthermore, the competitive mating index and sterility rate of irradiated males were the highest when they were paired with unirradiated males and females at a release ratio of 20:1:1. The irradiating wild males captured by sex pheromones in peach orchards with the sub-sterilizing dose achieved a 75.69% sterility rate, comparable to the laboratory-reared population. This study introduces a novel X-ray irradiation method for adult G. molesta captured in the orchard field and lays a theoretical foundation for promoting the wide application of the SIT.}
}