African Journal of
Microbiology Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0808
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 5228

Full Length Research Paper

Virulence and characteristics of a new nucleopolyhedrovirus strain of Dendrolimus kikuchii (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

Miao Miao Yang1,2,6, Meng Lou Li1, Yu Zhu Wang2, Liang Jian Qu2, Ke Yue Huai3, Xue Wen Nie4, Lu Qin Qiao5, Jin Ying Ding6 and Yong An Zhang2*
1Forestry Entomology Laboratory of Academic Forestry, Northwest Agriculture and Forest University, Yangling 712100 China. 2The Key Laboratory of Forest Protection, State Forestry Administration of China, Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091 China. 3Forestry Research Institute of Yunnan, Yunnan 650000 China. 4Forest Protection Station Mile County of Yunnan, Yunnan 652300 China. 5College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018 China. 6Ningxia agricultural school, Yinchuan 750000 China.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 30 June 2011
  •  Published: 18 August 2011

Abstract

In present study, a nucleopolyhedrovirus was isolated from the infected larvae ofDendrolimus kikuchii, which is a serious pest for a variety of conifers in China. Ultrastructural observation revealed that this virus is a multiple-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (MNPV), which was encapsulated within the envelope of each virion. Based on the morphological characteristics, it was identified as a new virus and named as DkNPV. It exhibited high potential as a biocontrol agent to protect the forest because of the high virulence against the third-instar larvae of D. kikuchii. The virus passage in the host after 4 generations, toxicity and ultrastructural morphology were stable.

 

Key words: Dendrolimus kikuchii, multiple-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus,Dendrolimus Kikuchii Matsumura Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (DkNPV), virulence, ultrastructure, biological control.