The eggs of the adzuki-bean weevil, Callosobruchus chinensis L., were irradiated with different dosages ranging from 100 to 102, 400 rad with
60Co. The eggs used were from 2 hr to 6 days old. The data revealed that the radiosensitivity was not necessarily in direct proportion to the age of the eggs. The 8 hr-old eggs were the most radiosensitive and the 5 day-old eggs were the most resistant to the radiation. In all the test series of younger eggs less than 2 days old, no egg was hatched when it was irradiated with dosages of more than 1, 600 rad. In those series of tests with older eggs more than 3 days old, radiosensitivity decreased, and 5 and 6 day-old eggs showed fairly good percentages of hatchability even when they were irradiated with a dosage of 25, 600 rad. The emergence of adults from these irradiated eggs was found to be checked when they were irradiated with a dosage of 3, 200 rad. Some adults emerging from 3 to 6 day-old eggs which were irradiated with a dosage of 1, 600 rad, were found to be sterile.
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