Abstract
Two field experiments were conducted with a granulosis virus infecting sugarcane shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus Snellen. In both the experiments, application of the virus significantly reduced the borer infestation compared to untreated control. The first experiment was carried out to determine the effectiveness of the virus applied as high and low volume sprays. When virus was applied at 5.5 x 1012 IB/ha as high volume (500 I/ha), 70.2% of the plants were protected from shoot borer infestation compared to 53.6% in low volume spray (150 I/ha). Significant reduction (P> 0.01) in shoot borer infestation was observed in plots treated with high compared to low volume spray. In the second experiment the effectiveness of the virus applied as crude and purified preparations was assessed. Both crude and purified preparations significantly (P > 0.01) reduced the borer infestation compared to untreated check. No significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed between plots treated with crude and purified preparations of the virus.