Current Microbiology (2001) 43, 140-143

Mark Myasnik, Robert Manasherob, Eitan Ben-Dov, Arieh Zaritsky, Yoel Margalith and Ze'ev Barak (2001)
Comparative sensitivity to UV-B radiation of two Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies and other Bacillus sp.
Current Microbiology 43 (2), 140-143
Abstract: Susceptibility of Bacillus thuringiensis spores and toxins to the UV-B range (280-330 nm) of the solar spectrum reaching Earth's surface may be responsible for its inactivation and low persistence in nature. Spores of the mosquito larvicidal B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis were significantly more resistant to UV-B than spores of the lepidopteran-active subsp. kurstaki. Spores of subsp. israelensis were as resistant to UV-B as spores of B. subtilis and more resistant than spores of the closely related B. cereus and another mosquito larvicidal species B. sphaericus. Sensitivity of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis spores to UV-B radiation depended upon their culture age; 24-h cultures, approaching maximal larvicidal activity, were still sensitive. Maximal resistance to UV-B was achieved only at 48 h.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Eitan Ben-Dov, Arieh Zaritsky, Yoel Margalith

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
rearing/culturing/mass production
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (entomopathogen)
Lysinibacillus sphaericus (entomopathogen)
Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (entomopathogen)