Journal of Economic Entomology (2005) 98, 1839-1847

Peter D. Christian, David Murray, Rebeccah Powell, Jamie Hopkinson, Nerida N. Gibb and Terry N. Hanzlik (2005)
Effective control of a field population of Helicoverpa armigera by using the small RNA virus Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus (Tetraviridae: Omegatetravirus)
Journal of Economic Entomology 98 (6), 1839-1847
Abstract: The first comprehensive field trial using an insect small RNA virus as a control agent on a cropping system was conducted with the Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus (family Tetraviridae, genus Omegatetravirus, HaSV). The virus was semipurified, quantified, and applied at two rates, 4 × 10¹⁵ and 4 × 10¹⁴ virus particles/ha, with minimal formulation on sorghum against the bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner). For comparison, a commercial preparation of Helicoverpa zea single- nucleopolyhedrovirus (HzSNPV, Gemstar) was applied at the same time at 9.27 × 10¹¹ polyhedral inclusion bodies/ha. The HaSV application rates were determined by a novel procedure using laboratory LC₅₀ bioassay data for HaSV and HzSNPV and calibration to the known field application rate of the HzSNPV. The baculovirus and the higher rate of HaSV produced statistically equivalent reductions in the larval populations of around 50% at both 3 and 6 d postapplication (dpa) compared with untreated plots. The 10-fold lower rate of HaSV reduced the larval population by 50% at 3 dpa and ~ 30% at 6 dpa. Persistence of HaSV over a 72-h period was found to be similar to that of HzSNPV, although the amount of HaSV available on the sorghum heads increased at 130 h postapplication, due most likely to dispersal of newly produced virus from cadavers and frass. The results from this trial indicate that HaSV could be used as an effective biopesticide for the control of H. armigera in sorghum and the ramifications for its broader use are discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: English)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): David A.H. Murray, Jamie E. Hopkinson

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
inundative/inoculative release
application technology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Helicoverpa armigera	Sorghum (crop)
Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus (entomopathogen)	Helicoverpa armigera	Sorghum (crop)
Helicoverpa zea single nucleopolyhedrovirus (entomopathogen)	Helicoverpa armigera	Sorghum (crop)