NOVEL SPODOPTERA EXIGUA NUCLEOPOLYHEDROVIRUS GENOTYPES AND USE THEREOF IN CONTROLLING BLIGHTS PRODUCED BY THIS INSECT

摘要

Novel Spodoptera exigua nucleopolyhedrovirus genotypes and use thereof in controlling blights produced by this insect. The invention relates to six novel genotypes of the Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus called AlPstM0935, AlPstM1400, AlPstM1033, AlPstM1449, AlPstM0923, and AlPstM0657 and the use thereof, preferably as a mixture of two or more genotypes, in insecticidal compositions against blights produced by Spodoptera exigua. A preferred embodiment of the invention consists in adding optical brighteners to these compositions, thereby potentiating their insecticidal capacity. The invention also describes a method for producing polyhedra of the virus by inoculating Spodoptera exigua larvae preferably pretreated with an analogue of the juvenile hormone of this member of the order Lepidoptera. The insecticidal compositions of the invention represent a clean, safe technology as they do not leave toxic residues on crops and are not toxic in man or other animals, including blight parasitoids and predators.