Effect of gamma irradiation on food consumption, assimilation and digestive enzymes in Ephestia cautella (Walker) larvae

The effects of gamma irradiation on the consumption, digestion and utilization of food by 8-18-day-old larvae of Ephestia cautella treated as 1-day-old larvae with 80 Gy, and also on the activity of protease, amylase and invertase enzymes, were studied. Gamma irradiation decreased the amount of food consumed and digested by the treated larvae in comparison with un-irradiated ones. It also reduced assimilation efficiency which further reduced weight gain. Protease, amylase and invertase enzyme activity was adversely affected in all irradiated larvae. The results revealed a positive correlation between the activity of the digestive enzymes and the amount of food digested by the larvae.