Biocontrol Science and Technology (2007) 17, 221-232

Rodrigo Lasa, Iñaki Pagola, Itxaso Ibañez, José E. Belda, Trevor Williams and Primitivo Caballero (2007)
Efficacy of Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus as a biological insecticide for beet armyworm control in greenhouses of southern Spain
Biocontrol Science and Technology 17 (3), 221-232
Abstract: Chemical control measures targeted at Spodoptera exigua in greenhouse sweet pepper crops in Spain have resulted in pest resistance to virtually all commercially available insecticidal products. A multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV), isolated from diseased S. exigua in Spain, was produced in laboratory reared larvae, tested for insecticidal activity in a laboratory bioassay, and was then applied in eleven commercial greenhouses planted with sweet pepper. Virus occlusion bodies (OBs) were applied on two occasions, at an interval of ~7 days, at a rate of 5×10⁸ OBs/L of spray in a volume of ~600 L/ha, depending on crop phenology and greenhouse area. The percentage of plants showing recent (<48 h old) feeding damage fell dramatically in greenhouses with high infestations of S. exigua; the same pattern was observed, although less dramatically, in greenhouses with low infestations. Average mortality of larvae collected from treated plants at 4 days after each application, and reared in the laboratory until death, was high (70-89%) and was not significantly affected by the degree of crop infestation. In a separate trial, the rate of acquisition of infection was examined in larvae that fed on plants treated with 1×10⁸ or 5×10⁸ OBs/L of spray. Of the 27 and 60% of larvae, respectively, that acquired infection in the 48 h period after spraying, about half became infected in the first 6 h post-application, irrespective of application rate. Acquisition of infection proceeded more slowly during the night-time compared to the daytime period, underlining the advantages of early morning applications of the virus. We conclude that the Spanish SeMNPV isolate merits registration as a biological insecticide for use in greenhouse crops in this region.
(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): Trevor Williams, Rodrigo Lasa, Primitivo Caballero

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
application technology
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Spodoptera exigua	Green pepper/chilli (Capsicum)	Spain (continental)
Alphabaculovirus spexiguae (entomopathogen)	Spodoptera exigua	Green pepper/chilli (Capsicum)	Spain (continental)