Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-03T14:04:38.464Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Large-scale field propagation and the purification of the granulosis virus of the potato moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidotera: Gelechiidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

J. N. Matthiessen ,
R. L. Christian ,
T. D. C. Grace  and
B. K. Filshie
J. N. Matthiessen
Affiliation:
Division of Entomology, CSIRO, Private Bag, P.O. Wembley, W. A., Australia 6014
R. L. Christian
Affiliation:
Division of Entomology, CSIRO, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia 2601
T. D. C. Grace
Affiliation:
Division of Entomology, CSIRO, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia 2601
B. K. Filshie
Affiliation:
Division of Entomology, CSIRO, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia 2601
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Approximately 300 000 larvae of Phthorimaea operculella (Zell.) infected with granulosis virus were collected from virus-treated potato crops in Western Australia. Modified crop culture and releases of laboratory-reared adults were used to boost the natural populations. Virus was applied as an aqueous suspension of pulverised diseased larvae. Infested foliage was collected into large polythene bags; the larvae were forced from their mines by heat and collected by washing in water. Collection and extraction took 100 h; field propagation of virus is thus inexpensive. The purification of the virus was carried out by differential centrifugation and separation on sucrose gradients. A total of 35 g of pure freeze-dried material containing approximately 1·35×1015 particles was obtained.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 68 , Issue 3 , September 1978 , pp. 385 - 391
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Briggs, J. D. (1963). Commercial production of insect pathogens, pp. 519–548in Steinhaus, E. A. (Ed.). Insect pathology. An advanced treatise. Volume 2.—689 pp. New York, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Finney, G. L., Flanders, S. E. & Smith, H. S. (1947). Mass culture of Macrocentrus ancylivorus and its host, the potato tuber moth.—Hilgardia 17, 437–483.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heimpel, A. M. (1971). Safety of insect pathogens for man and vertebrates, pp. 469–489 in Burges, H. D. & Hussey, N. W. (Eds.) Microbial control of insects and mites.— 861 pp. London, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Martouret, D. & Dusaussoy, G. (1959). Multiplication et extraction des corps d'inclusion de la virose intestinale de Thaumetopoea pityocampa Schiff.—Entomophaga 4, 253–259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reed, E. M. (1969). A granulosis virus of the potato moth.—Aust. J. Sci. 31, 300–301.Google Scholar
Reed, E. M. & Springett, B. P. (1971). Large-scale field testing of a granulosis virus for the control of the potato moth (Phthorimaea operculella (Zell.) (Lep., Gelechiidae)).—Bull. ent. Res. 61, 223–233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tinsley, T. W. & Melnick, J. L. (1973). Potential ecological hazards of pesticidal viruses.—Intervirology 2, 206–208.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yathom, S. (1968). Phenology of the tuber moth, Gnorimoschema operculella Zell., in Israel in the spring.—Israel J. agric. Res. 18, 89–90.Google Scholar