Sub-lethal effects of SpltMNPV infection on developmental stages of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

Application of different doses of SpltMNPV on final instars of Spodoptera litura showed dose-related mortality. A significant increase in the time for pupation and progeny mortality as well as reduced fecundity was observed in surviving larvae. Impact of sublethal doses on subsequent generation needs attention in designing baculovirus-based pest management.

Keywords:

• Spodoptera litura
• sub-lethal
• nucleopolyhedrovirus
• vertical transmission
• susceptibility

Acknowledgements

We thank Professor Masao Nagata, Department of Integrated Bio-Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan for providing technical advice for conducting this research. Thanks are also due to Dr S. J. H. Rizvi of ICARDA, Tehran, Iran, for going through the manuscript and providing valuable suggestions and necessary corrections in the earlier version of the manuscript.