Pest Management Science (2016) 72, 660-670
Maite Arrizubieta, Oihane Simón, Luis M. Torres-Vila, Elisabete Figueiredo, Javier Mendiola, Antonio Mexia, Primitivo Caballero and Trevor Williams (2016)
Insecticidal efficacy and persistence of a co-occluded binary mixture of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) variants in protected and field-grown tomato crops on the Iberian Peninsula
Pest Management Science 72 (4), 660-670
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
A binary co-occluded mixture (HearSP1B:LB6) of Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) variants was previously found to be highly pathogenic under laboratory conditions. The insecticidal efficacy and persistence of this mixture were determined in greenhouse and field-grown tomato crops in Spain and Portugal.
RESULTS
Concentrations of 109–1011 occlusion bodies (OBs) L-1 of HearSP1B:LB6 resulted in 89–100% mortality of larvae on treated tomato plants in growth chambers. In protected tomato crops, application of 1010 OBs L-1 of HearSP1B:LB6 was as effective as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and spinosad in reducing the percentage of damaged fruits, and resulted in higher larval mortality than the Bt treatment. In open-field tomato crops, virus treatments were as effective in reducing the percentage of damaged fruit as spinosad, Bt and chlorpyrifos treatments. The persistence of the insecticides on tomato plants was negatively correlated with solar radiation in both field and greenhouse settings. Residual insecticidal activity of OBs on protected tomato crops at 6 days post-application was 55 and 35% higher than that of Bt and spinosad respectively. On field-grown tomato, OB persistence was significantly lower than with spinosad or chlorpyrifos.
CONCLUSION
The efficacy and persistence of HearSP1B:LB6 OBs were comparable with those of commercial insecticides in both field and greenhouse tomato crops. Future studies should focus on reducing application rates to determine insecticidal efficacy at lower OB concentrations.
(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): Trevor Williams, Luis M. Torres-Vila, Primitivo Caballero, Oihane Simón
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
formulation/storage of bioagents
