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Can mixtures of horizontally and vertically transmitted nucleopolyhedrovirus genotypes be effective for biological control of Spodoptera exigua?

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Abstract

Previous studies identified distinct genotypes of Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV) that were associated with horizontal transmission (named HT-SeG25) or vertical transmission (named VT-SeAl1) in the host insect, S. exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). We examined the use of mixtures of occlusion bodies (OBs) of these genotypes as the basis for a virus preparation that could provide immediate pest control and establish a persistent sublethal infection in the survivors of an OB application for transgenerational pest suppression. Mixtures of HT-SeG25 + VT-SeAl1 comprising 25:75 or 75:25 % of each genotype, respectively, resulted in improved OB pathogenicity in terms of concentration-mortality metrics compared to OBs of VT-SeAl1 alone or similar values compared to OBs of the HT-SeG25 genotype alone. In contrast, no significant differences were observed in speed of kill or mean OB production per larva. Laboratory and greenhouse trials revealed that the prevalence of sublethal infection in adults that survived OB treatments in the larval stage increased with the proportion of VT-SeAl1 present in the inoculum, as determined by qPCR. Greenhouse trials indicated that the 75 % VT-SeAl1 + 25 % HT-SeG25 mixture was as effective as methoxyfenozide in preventing pest damage to pepper fruits. The potential contribution of vertically transmitted genotypes to transgenerational suppression of pest populations is discussed.

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Acknowledgments

We thank N. Gorria for technical assistance. Insects were kindly provided by Andermatt Biocontrol AG, Switzerland. This study received financial support from the Spanish Ministry for Science and Technology (AGL2011-30352-C02-01 and 02). C.V. received a predoctoral scholarship from the Universidad Pública de Navarra.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bioinsecticidas Microbianos, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología, CSIC-UPNA, Avda de Pamplona 123, 31192, Mutilva, Spain

    Cristina Virto, Rosa Murillo & Primitivo Caballero

  2. Laboratorio de Entomología Agrícola y Patología de Insectos, Departamento de Producción Agraria, Universidad Pública de Navarra, 31006, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain

    Cristina Virto, Rosa Murillo & Primitivo Caballero

  3. Instituto de Ecología AC, 91070, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

    Trevor Williams

  4. IFAPA, La Mojonera, 04745, Almería, Spain

    David Navarro & M. Mar Tellez

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  1. Cristina Virto
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  2. Trevor Williams
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  3. David Navarro
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  4. M. Mar Tellez
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  5. Rosa Murillo
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  6. Primitivo Caballero
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Correspondence to Primitivo Caballero.

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Funding

This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry for Science and Technology (Grant Number AGL2011-30352-C02-01).

Conflict of interest

Authors C. Virto, T. Williams, D. Navarro, M.M. Tellez, R. Murillo and P. Caballero declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Communicated by S.T. Jaronski.

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Virto, C., Williams, T., Navarro, D. et al. Can mixtures of horizontally and vertically transmitted nucleopolyhedrovirus genotypes be effective for biological control of Spodoptera exigua?. J Pest Sci 90, 331–343 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-016-0743-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-016-0743-x

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