Chinese Journal of Entomology (1999) 19, 167-186

S.J. Tuan, S.S. Kao, D.J. Cheng, R.F. Hou and Y.C. Chao (1999)
[Comparison of the characterization and pathogenesis of three lepidopteran nucleopolyhedroviruses (HearNPV, SpeiNPV and SpltNPV) isolated from Taiwan]
Chinese Journal of Entomology 19 (2), 167-186
Abstract: Three nucleopolyhedroviruses isolated from the larvae of Helicoverpa armigera, Spodoptera exigua, and S. litura with nucleopolyhedrosis in Taiwan were characterized and compared morphologically, biochemically, immunologically and pathologically. The polyhedra were all irregular in shape, measuring ca. 0.79 ± 0.22, 1.07 ± 0.16, and 1.61 ± 0.32 µm, respectively under electron microscopic observation. The nucleocapsid is enlongated with parallel sides and two straight ends, measuring 319.80 ± 7.80 X 44.45 ± 4.54, 297.40 ± 9.14 X 46.72 4.00, and 332.26 ± 13.55 X 47.16 ± 1.42 nm, respectively. There were distinct differences between their viral proteins only in minor bands. The molecular weights of purified undegraded polyhedrins were all approximately 31kDa. Polyhedrins were assayed by ELISA with polyclonal antipolyhedrin antisera specific to each polyhedrin of HearNPV, SpeiNPV and SpltNPV, demonstrating that there were a close relationship between these viruses. Restriction endonuclease profiles of these viral genomes digested with BamH I, Bgl II, EcoR I, Hind III, Pst I and Xho I restriction endonucleases indicated that these viruses were markedly different from each other, the genome sizes were estimated to be 121.7 ± 2.1, 132.4 ± 2.4, and 137.8 ± 1.8 kbp, respectively. HearNPV isolate is highly specific and pathogenic to H. armigera larvae, its LD₅₀ values were 4, 38, 742, and 4,710 PIBs/larva to first to fourth instar, respectively as assayed with an inoculum-imbibing method. These 3 viruses were not pathogenic to Plutella xylostella.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: Chinese)
Database assignments for author(s): Roger F.N. Hou, Suey-Sheng Kao

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Helicoverpa armigera		Taiwan
	Spodoptera exigua		Taiwan
	Spodoptera litura		Taiwan
Alphabaculovirus spexiguae (entomopathogen)	Spodoptera exigua		Taiwan
Alphabaculovirus spliturae (entomopathogen)	Spodoptera litura		Taiwan
Alphabaculovirus helarmigerae (entomopathogen)	Helicoverpa armigera		Taiwan