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Classical biological control in an ephemeral crop habitat with Anticarsia gemmatalis nucleopolyhedrovirus

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Abstract

Anticarsia gemmatalis nucleopolyhedrovirus(AgNPV) was released as a single spray in soybean at two sites in Louisiana, near Crowley and Baton Rouge, after which viral prevalence and population density were monitored for 3--4 years. Each site had a plot with no treatment (control) and two virus-treated plots, one planted with soybean yearly for 3-4 years, and the other planted with soybean for 3-4 years except for rotation to a different crop in year 2. In year 1, the single spray ofAgNPV resulted in viral prevalence rates ranging from 25--100% A. gemmatalis mortality over the entire growing season. By the end of this season, viral accumulation in soil averaged 4.1 ×104 occlusion bodies (OB)/g at Crowley and 7.4× 103 OB/g at Baton Rouge, which had a sandier soil than Crowley. At Crowley, prevalence of AgNPVreached 49% insect mortality in the unrotated plot in year 2, and 31% in the rotated plot and 38% in the unrotated plot in year 3, in spite of moderate to low population densities of A. gemmatalis. At Baton Rouge, AgNPV prevalence decreased to peak prevalence rates of 25% insect mortality in year 2,4% in year 3, and 11% in year 4, even though A. gemmatalis population densities were moderate in years 2 and 3. Viral concentration in soil decreased to 2.7 × 102 OB/g (rotated plot) and1.4 × 104 OB/g (unrotated plot) by the end of year 3 at Crowley and to 10 OB/g (rotated plot) and31 OB/g (unrotated plot) by the end of year 4 at Baton Rouge. In forward stepwise multiple regressions, the concentration of OB in soil was significantly (p = 0.0001) and positively correlated with AgNPV prevalence, but correlations of the latter parameter with host population density and rainfall were not significant (p > 0.05). Prevalence rates of the fungal entomopathogen Nomuraea rileyi were significantly (p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with AgNPV prevalence at Crowley but not in the combined data set. Prevalence of N. rileyi was negatively correlated (p = 0.0001) with precipitation and positively correlated (p = 0.0001) with A.gemmatalis population density. The research demonstrated that AgNPV can be introduced and established for long-term suppression of A.gemmatalis in an ephemeral crop habitat, but certain site-related conditions, perhaps relating to soil, are necessary for its continued success.

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  1. Department of Entomology, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    James R. Fuxa & Arthur R. Richter

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  1. James R. Fuxa
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  2. Arthur R. Richter
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Fuxa, J.R., Richter, A.R. Classical biological control in an ephemeral crop habitat with Anticarsia gemmatalis nucleopolyhedrovirus. BioControl 44, 405–421 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009990709230

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