The occurrence of nucleopolyhedrovirus infecting Hyposidra talaca (Geometridae: Lepidoptera), a tea defoliator from North-East India

Abstract

We identified the nucleopolyhedrovirus (HytaNPV), specific to Hyposidra talaca, a major defoliator of tea in India by partial amplification of polyhedrin gene. The sequence analysis revealed HytaNPV is closely related to NPVs that infect Buzura suppressaria and Ectropis obliqua, in China.

Keywords:

• Hyposidra talaca
• looper caterpillar
• NPV
• PCR
• tea pest
• North-East India

Acknowledgements

Authors wish to thank The CAO (WB), TRA, NBRR&DC-Nagrakata for the necessary help in carrying out the research. Funding from Tea Board of India is gratefully acknowledged by PAS. Facilities provided by the Biotechnology department, TRA, Tocklai for carrying out molecular work is greatly acknowledged. Thanks are also due to Tapan Kumar Talukder for his technical assistance during survey. We thank Sean M. Kent (Northeastern University, USA) for proof-reading the current version of the Manuscript.