Project Number: 5352-22000-018-20
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Jul 01, 2009
End Date: May 31, 2012

Objective:
1. Development of laboratory production methods. In-vivo production of the virus in looper larvae that have become adapted to potato foliage will be developed. Mass production of the fungus on artificial medium will also be developed. 2. Development of bait-fungus formulation. The fungus will be incorporated into the most effective bait for evaluation under field conditions in Moxee, Hermiston, and selected sites in King County. 3. Development of laboratory and field evaluation methods for both microbial control agents. In 2009 we will evaluate most promising microbial treatments in field simulated conditions (greenhouse) and in small plot trials at the USDA Moxee farm. 4. Formulation of NPV for UV protection. Methods to improve the effectiveness of viral microbial control agents of loopers will be developed through formulation to promote activity and protect the pathogens from environmental degradation.

Approach:
For objectives1. We will use live insects production of NPV. We will isolate Metarhizium anisopliae from local wireworms. 2. It will be incorporated into the oatmeal bait balls. Stability of the fungus will be determined using standard mycological techniques. 3. We will evaluate fungi and NPV in the greenhouse and in small plot trials in Moxee and King County. Evaluation of NPV will be done in field cages at Moxee using the YARL cabbage looper colony. Dosages of the virus that are effective in laboratory tests will be applied to determine efficacy and ability to reproduce and spread within looper populations. 4. We will use materials we have been experimenting with for codling moth virus and will test the most promising of these approaches with the virus in our Moxee plots. Formerly 5352-22000-016-26T (6/2010).