Impact of a Turkish isolate and a plaque-purified variant of SpliNPV-B on larval stage development of Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Boisd.
Baculoviruses can alter the development and physiological status of their insect hosts. In the present study, two Spodoptera littoralis nucleopolyhedroviruses (SpliNPV-TR1 and SpliNPV-M2) were examined in terms of their effect on the stage development of S. littoralis at two doses/concentrations by inoculation of neonates or third instars. Both isolates had an acute pathological effect on neonates. However, larval development was prolonged (6-36 h) by either infection when neonates were infected. When third-instar larvae were inoculated, no mortality occurred until insects moulted to later stages. When the isolates were compared, more mortality occurred in the fifth instar with SpliNPV-M2 than with SpliNPV-TR1, whereas less mortality occurred in the sixth instar with SpliNPV-M2 than with SpliNPV-TR1. However, none of the isolates demonstrated a dose effect. Larvae died at 108-198 h post-inoculation at all infections, and none of them pupated. Larval development was retarded (0-126 h) for each stage when third-instar larvae were inoculated. Consequently, SpliNPV-M2 would be a more effective control agent than SpliNPV-TR1 for control of S. littoralis since it kills larvae at earlier developmental stages.
Toprak
Umut
U
Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ankara, 06110 Dişkapi/Ankara, Turkey. umt968@mail.usask.ca
Gürkan
M Oktay
MO
Bayram
Serife
S
D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000821:virology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000821:virology*; D014421:Turkey