Effects of irradiation on the reproductive ability of Zonitoides arboreus, a snail pest of orchid roots |
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Authors: | ROBERT G HOLLINGSWORTH PETER A FOLLETT JOHN W ARMSTRONG |
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Institution: | US Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, PO Box 4459, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, USA |
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Abstract: | The effect of irradiation on the reproductive ability of the orchid snail, Zonitoides arboreus, a serious pest of potted orchids in Hawaii, was investigated. Weekly egg production averaged between 0.8 and 1.9 over a 9–wk period for snails not exposed to irradiation, and egg hatch averaged 61%. In comparison to untreated controls, irradiation of snails at the lowest dose tested (34–37 Gy) reduced egg production and egg hatch by 63% and 94%, respectively over a 9–wk period. None of the snails treated with levels of irradiation ≥ 69 Gy produced viable eggs. This is the first study measuring the effect of ionising irradiation on a terrestrial snail or slug species using sterilising doses. Overall, the results show that the reproductive ability of this snail species is affected by irradiation in a similar manner as for Biomphalaria glabrata, an aquatic snail for which the effects of irradiation have been studied in detail. |
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Keywords: | Zonitoides arboreus bush snail orchid snail fecundity fertility irradiation sterilisation |
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