Pathogenicity and Polyhedra Morphology of Spilarctia obliqua Nucleopolyhedrosis Virus

Pathogenicity and Polyhedra Morphology of Spilarctia obliqua Nucleopolyhedrosis Virus

Spilarctia obliqua(Wlk.) is a serious pest of mulberry which is naturally affected by its nucleopolyhedrosis virus (SoNPV) in field conditions. The polyhedral occlusion bodies (POB's) were hexahedron under scanning and transmission electron microscope and measured 0.42${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ to 0.67 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in diameter. The symptoms of NPV infected S. obliqua larvae resembled with that of other NPVs' infected lepidopterous larvae. The pathogenicity and potentiality of this virus against S. obliqua was tested in the laboratory conditions and the results showed 100% mortality in larvae inoculated with SoNPV at 6.23${\times}10^5$ POBs/ml. Therefore, SoNPV appears to have a high potential as a microbial biocontrol agent against S. obliqua larvae.