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Field trial of a genetically improved baculovirus insecticide

Nature volume 370, pages 138–140 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

IMPROVEMENT of biological pesticides through genetic modification has enormous potential and the insect baculoviruses are particularly amenable to this approach1,2. A key aim of genetic engineering is to increase their speed of kill, primarily by the incorporation of genes which encode arthropod or bacterially derived insect-selective toxins3–11, insect hormones12,13 or enzymes14,15. We report here the first, to our knowledge, field trial of a genetically improved nuclear polyhedrosis virus of the alfalfa looper, Autogmpha californica (AcNPV) that expresses an insectselective toxin gene (AaHIT) derived from the venom of the scorpion Androclonus australisl6–18. Previous laboratory assays with the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, demonstrated a 25% reduction in time to death compared to the wild-type virus, but unaltered pathogenicity6 and host range19. In the field, the modified baculovirus killed faster, resulting in reduced crop damage and it appeared to reduce the secondary cycle of infection compared to the wild-type virus.

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Author notes

  1. P. Jane Cayley: Roussel Uclaf Environmental Health, Mclntyre House, High Street, Berkamstead HP4 2DY, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NERC Institute of Virology and Environmental Microbiology, Mansfield Road, Oxford, 0X1 3SR, UK

    Jennifer S. Cory>, Mark L. Hirst, Trevor Williams, Rosemary S. Hails, David Goulson, Bernadette M. Green, Timothy M. Carty, Robert D. Possee, P. Jane Cayley & David H. L. Bishop

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  1. Jennifer S. Cory>
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  8. Robert D. Possee
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  10. David H. L. Bishop
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Cory>, J., Hirst, M., Williams, T. et al. Field trial of a genetically improved baculovirus insecticide. Nature 370, 138–140 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/370138a0

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