EPPO Bulletin (2003) 33, 335-338

A. Laarif, S. Fattouch, W. Essid, N. Marzouki, H. Ben Salah and M.H. Ben Hammouda (2003)
Epidemiological survey of Phthorimaea operculella granulosis virus in Tunisia
EPPO Bulletin 33 (2), 335-338
Abstract: In Tunisia, Phthorimaea operculella is an important pest in traditional, unrefrigerated potato stores. An integrated control approach including the use of biological control agents and specifically insect viruses is being developed. From this perspective, we carried out a screening and an evaluation of local Phthorimaea operculella granulosis virus naturally present in Tunisian pest populations. On the basis of symptomatology, P. operculella larvae were collected from different regions (North, Cap Bon, Sahel). Indirect ELISA using a serum raised against the purified Tunisian isolate of the virus was used to establish the geographical distribution of the virus. Comparison of the two approaches showed that symptomatology is not so virus-specific, as morphologically healthy insects were sometimes ELISA-positive. The serological technique therefore gives better detection of the virus.
(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): Asma Laarif

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

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