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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #113583
Title: SHELF LIFE AND RESIDUAL ACTIVITY OF NUCLEOPOLYHEDROVIRUS FROM ANAGRAPHA FALCIFERA IN LIGNIN MICROCAPSULES

Author
item TAMEZ-GUERRA, PATRICIA - UANL, SAN NICOLAS, MEXICO
item McGuire, Michael
item Behle, Robert
item GALAN-WONG, LUIS - UANL, SAN NICOLAS, MEXICO

Submitted to: Mexican Association of Microbiology and National Congress Microbiology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/13/2000
Publication Date: 4/13/2000
Citation: TAMEZ-GUERRA, P., MCGUIRE, M.R., BEHLE, R.W., GALAN-WONG, L.J. SHELF LIFE AND RESIDUAL ACTIVITY OF NUCLEOPOLYHEDROVIRUS FROM ANAGRAPHA FALCIFERA IN LIGNIN MICROCAPSULES. MEXICAN ASSOCIATION OF MICROBIOLOGY AND NATIONAL CONGRESS MICROBIOLOGY. 2000.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Anagrapha falcifera nucleopolyhedrosis virus (AfMNPV) has potential as a bioinsecticide for control of lepidopteran crop pests. Unfortunately, solar radiation reduces its activity after field application. Eight lignin based spray-dried formulations (SDF) of AfMNPV were made to improve its residual insecticidal activity. These formulations were compared with an unformulated AfMNPV (NFV) and a commercial formulation (CF) of AfMNPV. Initial insecticidal activity LC50 determined using bioassays with neonate Trichoplusia ni showed that the AfMNPV loses ca. 10% of its activity when preparing SDF's. When applied to cotton leaves and exposed to 8 h of xenon light in the laboratory, the original activity remaining (% OAR) for SDF's (65% OAR) was greater than CF and NFV (50% and 35% OAR, respectively). When applied to field-grown cabbage, insecticidal activity was determined for leaf samples collected at 3, 7, 27, and 51 h after application. Three hours after application, SDF's had significantly higher insecticidal activity (ca. 7% mortality) than that of NFV (30% mortality). At 7 h and 27 h after application, SDF's had significantly higher residual activity (65% and 50% mortality, respectively) compared with the CF (42% and 23% mortality, respectively). The results of these experiments demonstrated that it is possible to reduce the adverse effects of sunlight on AfMNPV by developing improved formulations.