Isolation and Characterization of Baculoviruses from Three Major Lepidopteran Pests in the Semi-Arid Tropics of India

Sridhar Kumar, Ch and Ranga Rao, G V and Sireesha, K and Kumar, P L (2011) Isolation and Characterization of Baculoviruses from Three Major Lepidopteran Pests in the Semi-Arid Tropics of India. Indian Journal of Virology, 22 (1). pp. 29-36. ISSN 0970-2822

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Abstract

Baculoviruses were isolated from three major lepidopteran pests, Helicoverpa armigera, Spodoptera litura and Amsacta albistriga in the semi-arid tropics during natural epizootic conditions at ICRISAT fields, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India. Biological, morphological and biochemical analysis identified these isolates as Nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs). Scanning electron microscopy of the occlusion bodies (OBs) purified from diseased larvae revealed polyhedral particles of size approximately 0.5–2.5 lm [Helicoverpa armigera Nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV)], 0.9–2.92 lm [Spodoptera litura Nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltNPV)] and 1.0–2.0 lm [Amsacta albistriga Nucleopolyhedrovirus (AmalNPV)] in diameter. Transmission electron microscopy of thin sections of OBs of the three isolates revealed up to 5–8 multiple bacilliform shaped particles packaged within a single viral envelope. The dimensions of these particles were 277.7 9 41.6 nm for HearNPV, 285.7 9 34.2 nm for SpltNPV and 228.5 9 22.8 nm for AmalNPV. Each of HearNPV and AmalNPV contained up to 6 nucleocapsids and SpltNPV contained up to 7 nucleocapsids per envelope. The estimated molecular weights of the purified OB (polyhedrin) protein of the three NPVs were 31.29–31.67 kDa. Virus yield (OBs/larva) was 5.18 ± 0.45 9 109 for HearNPV, 5.73 ± 0.17 9 109 for SpltNPV and 7.90 ± 0.54 9 109 for AmalNPV. The LC50 values of various NPVs against 2nd and 3rd instar larvae indicated 2.30 9 104 and 1.5 9 105 OBs/ml for HearNPV, 3.5 9 104 and 2.4 9 105 OBs/ml for SpltNPV and 5.6 9 104 and 3.96 9 105 OBs/ml for AmalNPV. The lethal time required to cause 50% mortality (LT50) for these three species were also defined. This study has shown that the NPVs infecting three major lepidopteran pests in India are multiple NPVs, and they have good potential to use as biocontrol agents against these important pests.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Insect virus;Baculoviruses;Lepidopteran;pests;NPV;Electron microscopy;Bioassays
Agro Tags:	<b>Agrotags</b> - animal developmental stages | viruses | isolation | disease transmission | processing | yields | proteins | helicoverpa armigera | pests | productivity <br><b>Fishtags</b> - drying <br><b>Geopoliticaltags</b> - india | andhra pradesh | taiwan | japan
Subjects:	Others > Entomology
Depositing User:	Siva Shankar
Date Deposited:	28 May 2011 05:51
Last Modified:	26 Dec 2011 03:45
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/44
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13337-011-0029-0
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	World Bank
Acknowledgement:	This project is supported by the special project (World Bank, DM-2005) of ICRISAT on Biopesticides and is highly appreciated.
Links:	Author

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