International Journal of Pest Management (2003) 49, 147-153
R. Murillo, D. Muñoz and P. Caballero (2003)
Host range and biological activity of three Spodoptera nucleopolyhedrovirus genotypic variants and the effect of Tinopal LPW on the most active variant
International Journal of Pest Management 49 (2), 147-153
Abstract: The noctuid moths Spodoptera exigua, S. littoralis and S. frugiperda are three important insect pest species and the natural hosts of three distinct nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs), of which several strains have been isolated world-wide. A variant of S. exigua NPV from Almería, Spain (Se-SP2A), a variant of the S. littoralis NPV from Morocco (Sl-M2) and a variant of the S. frugiperda NPV from California, USA (Sf-2), were analysed with restriction endonucleases and biologically compared in terms of host range, infectivity (median lethal concentration, LC50) and virulence (median survival time, ST50) for each of the three host species. Each virus was most effective against its homologous host when both LC50 and ST50 were taken into account, but one the S. littoralis variants, Sl-M2, showed the highest overall activity against all three species. The influence of the optical brightener Tinopal LPW on the activity of Sl-M2 against all three Spodoptera spp. was assayed. The LC50 of Sl-M2 was reduced in all cases in the presence of Tinopal LPW; quite significantly in S. littoralis and S. frugiperda (8.7- and 7.2-fold, respectively) and only slightly (1.5-fold) in S. exigua. No significant differences in the ST50 were detected when Tinopal LPW was added to the virus suspension.
(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): Primitivo Caballero, Delia Muñoz
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
formulation/storage of bioagents
