Citrus oil boosts radiation's power against grain-eating pests
Senevirathne WHKE, Sandeepanie WDTA, Premarathna JMMBT, Welegama HMVT, Wickramasinghe JS
Crop Improvement
The dried beans, rice, or flour in your pantry are protected from bugs somewhere along the supply chain, and this research points toward doing that with less radiation and fewer synthetic chemicals, not more of either.
Scientists tested whether zapping stored-grain pests with radiation works better when paired with a nanoemulsion made from bitter orange peel oil. It turns out the combination is a one-two punch: the oil disrupts the insects' antioxidant defenses and nervous system just enough that a much smaller radiation dose becomes lethal. This means grain storage facilities could use far less radiation and less chemical fumigant while still protecting rice weevils and flour beetles from surviving in stored grain.
Key Findings
Combining sublethal radiation with Citrus aurantium oil nanoemulsions reduced the effective radiation dose needed by about threefold in both pest species.
Nanoemulsions increased radiation sensitivity 2.75-fold in rice weevils and 2.40-fold in red flour beetles compared to radiation alone.
Radiation alone significantly inhibited antioxidant enzymes (GSH, catalase, peroxidase) and acetylcholinesterase activity, indicating combined oxidative stress and nerve toxicity, with no harm to seed germination at applied doses.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Combining low-dose radiation with orange-peel oil nanoemulsions kills stored-grain pests like rice weevils and flour beetles far more effectively than either treatment alone, letting grain handlers cut radiation doses by roughly threefold while avoiding synthetic chemical fumigants.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Radiation-induced in vivo biochemical disruptions, acetylcholinesterase inhibition and synergistic radiosensitivity of 60Co-γ radiation integrated with Citrus aurantium nanoemulsions against Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst).
Effective management of stored-grain insect pests is essential to minimize post-harvest losses. 60Cobalt γ-radiation provides residue-free, hygienic disinfestation and eco-friendly alternative to s...
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
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