A Genetically Modified Nucleopolyhedrovirus: Effectiveness and in vivo Expression in the Black Cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Huf.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Baculoviruses are orally infectious to insects and are considered as viral insecticides and safe for the environment To enhance their speed-of-kill, these viruses were genetically engineered to express insect enzymes Efficiency of a recombinant virus, Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus expressing Manduca sexta juvenile hormone esterase (AcMsJHE), and its wild type (AcMNPV) for killing 1(st) instar larvae of Agrontis ipsilon (Huf) was analyzed. Mortality rate of A ipsilon larvae was higher with recombinant virus than wild type by 1.4 times oil the level of LC(50); at the same time it was 16 7\% faster in killing than its wild type Effect of virus Infection oil larval weight indicated that 3(rd) instar larvae infected with 1000 PIBs/larva were dramatically reduced in weight with either recombinant or wild type viruses, although the percentage of reduction was higher with recombinant than wild type virus. Isoelectric focusing analysis showed that there were expression Of Juvenile hormone esterase in vivo, and it is believed that it is related to gene expression These results indicated that the genetically engineered baculovirus, AcMsJHE, could provide effective control compared with its wild type for A ipsilon and further support the potential use of genetically engineered baculoviruses in insect pest control.