The Effect of Cathode-Ray Irradiation on the Rice Weevil in Wheat

Excerpt from the report Summary: High-voltage cathode rays were used to study their effect on rice weevils and on wheat seed. Exposures of 10,000 to 200,000 r.e.p. (roentgens equivalent physical) were employed. Adult rice weevils irradiated at 20,000 and 30,000 r.e.p. died within a week without reproducing. When exposed to 10,000 r.e.p., they lived for 7 or 8 weeks and nearly all of them failed to reproduce. The egg stage failed to develop after exposure to 10,000 r.e.p. However, this dosage did not control infestations in wheat. Wheat seeds germinated after doses of up to 200,000 r.e.p., but the embryonic plants did not continue to develop if they received doses of 40,000 r.e.p. or more.