As part of sterile insect technique (SIT) programs, irradiation can effectively induce sterility in
insects by damaging genomic DNA. However, irradiation also induces other off-target side
effects that reduce the quality and performance of sterilized males. Thus, treatments that
reduce off-target effects of irradiation on male performance while maintaining sterility can
improve the feasibility and economy of SIT programs. Exposure to ionizing radiation induces
the formation of damaging free radicals in biological systems that may reduce sterile male …