Biocontrol Science and Technology (1996) 6, 207-216

J. Kroschel (1996)
Biological control of the potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zeller) in the Republic of Yemen using granulosis virus: Biochemical characterization, pathogenicity and stability of the virus
Biocontrol Science and Technology 6 (2), 207-216
Abstract: A granulosis virus infecting the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella, has been identified, isolated and purified from diseased potato tuber moth larvae collected from potato fields in the highland basin Qa al-Boun of the Republic of Yemen. The granulosis virus was propagated by feeding potato tuber moth larvae with potatoes treated with a concentration of one granulosis virus-infected fourth instar larva to 5l of water (corresponding to an occlusion body (OB) concentration of 2 106 OB ml^-1). Restriction enzyme analysis of viral DNA revealed that the isolated virus seemed to correspond to an isolate from the Lima region of Peru. A median LC 50 value of 7.3 10⁴ OB ml^-1 was calculated for a purified virus preparation. Different preparations of the granulosis virus were investigated for their persistence in the field on tubers and leaves. A purified virus preparation (PoGV) applied to potato tubers and exposed in the open had a half-life of 1.3 days. On leaves, the activity of granulosis virus spray deposits of an unpurified virus preparation (PoGV I) and of a glycerine-formulated preparation (PoGV II) also declined with exposure time. Mortalities of potato tuber moth larvae of 43% for PoGV I and 49% for PoGV II were recorded when first instar larvae were fed with potato leaves collected 2 days after treatment. After 8 days, 25.8% of the larvae had died from PoGV I treatment and 19.4% from PoGV II. Neither preparation displayed any effect 17 days after application.
(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): Jürgen Kroschel

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phthorimaea operculella	Potato (Solanum tuberosum)	Yemen
Betabaculovirus phoperculellae (entomopathogen)	Phthorimaea operculella	Potato (Solanum tuberosum)	Yemen