Bulletin of Entomological Research (1999) 89, 147-152

M.A. Haque, E.U. Canning and D.J. Wright (1999)
Entomopathogenicity of Vairimorpha sp (Microsporidia) in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera : Yponomeutidae)
Bulletin of Entomological Research 89 (2), 147-152
Abstract: The biocontrol potential of a microsporidian pathogen, Vairimorpha sp., obtained from field collected diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella Linnaeus, was assessed in a laboratory colony of this insect. The pathogenicity was quantified using a standard bioassay procedure by infecting second instar larvae per oswith variable dose levels of the pathogen. Vairimorpha sp. caused 100%mortality even at a dosage of 1.5 × 10³ spores per larva. The median lethal dose (LD₅₀) was 2.2 × 10⁴ spores per larva on day 5 post-inoculation. The time taken to achieve 90-100%mortality was dose dependent and varied from 5 days with 1.5 × 10⁶spores per larva to 11 days with 1.5 × 10³ spores per larva. The pathogen reduced the food consumption of P. xylostella larvae by 75%, 93% and 95% at doses 1.5 × 10⁴, 1.5 ×10⁵ and 1.5 × 10⁶ spores per larva, respectively. Histological observations showed that the pathogen preferentially infected adipose tissue cells but spread to almost all tissues. The pathogen was transmitted transovarially as well as horizontally and had a marked influence on progeny performance. It was concluded that Vairimorpha sp. has sufficient potential to be tested in the field as a biocontrol agent for P. xylostella.
(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): Denis J. Wright

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.
	Plutella xylostella		United Kingdom