Skip to main content
Entomology 2021 Main banner
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Presentation Icons
In-Person
In-Person
Livestream
Livestream
On-Demand
On-Demand
Student Competition
Student Competition
Video Chat
Video Chat
Ticketed Event
Ticketed Event
Poster Icons
Student Competition
Student Competition
In-Person
In-Person
Poster
Poster
On-Demand
On-Demand
Video Q&A ViewAttendees 3

Member Symposium

Advancements in Developing Baculovirus-based Insecticides as Mainstream Tools for Lepidopteran Pest Management On-Demand Presentations

Baculovirus-based Insecticides for tree fruit lepidopteran pest management: Overcoming the shortcomings and improving efficacy

On-Demand
On-Demand

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Sean Moore

    IPM Portfolio Manager
    Citrus Research International
    Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa

    • Co-Author(s)

  • TM

    Tammy Marsberg

    Research Entomologist
    Citrus Research International, Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • MJ

    Michael Jukes

    Researcher
    Rhodes University, Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • JO

    John Opoku-Debrah

    Research Entomologist
    River Bioscience, Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • PM

    Patrick Mwanza

    PhD graduate
    Nelson Mandela University, Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • DT

    David Taylor

    MSc graduate
    Rhodes University, Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • CK

    Caroline Knox

    Head of Microbiology
    Rhodes University, Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • MH

    Martin Hill

    Distinguished professor
    Rhodes University
    Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • GD

    Gill Dealtry Dealtry

    Associate Professor Physiology
    Nelson Mandela University, Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • ML

    Michael Lee

    Prof Michael Lee Manager of Centre for High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy
    Nelson Mandela University, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Baculoviruses have been used for control of tree fruit Lepidoptera for several decades, with the first being Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) for Cydia pomonella (codling moth) control. Subsequently, pest species, such as Grapholita molesta (oriental fruit moth) and Thaumatotibia leucotreta (false codling moth) have been targeted. Despite the obvious efficacy and benefits of baculovirus-based biopesticides, they do present certain shortcomings. For example, although host specificity is an advantage, so is it a disadvantage; baculoviruses are UV-sensitive and degrade rapidly in direct sunlight; although not common, pest resistance can occur; and speed-of-kill is slow. Consequently, a multi-faceted research program is being driven to develop solutions to these deficiencies. Bioprospecting for new baculoviruses has identified alternative CrleGV isolates in the event that resistance by T. leucotreta may develop. A novel CpGV isolate with potential to overcome codling moth resistance to CpGV has also been found. A novel baculovirus species, the Cryptophlebia peltastica nucleopolyhedrovirus (CrpeNPV), with a broader host range, virulent against several species of tortricids, has been found and characterized. We have successfully selected a UV-resistant CrleGV isolate with more than 1000-fold improved virulence after UV-exposure when compared to the wild-type isolate. Combining different species of virus has also resulted in a synergistic response, increasing virulence. Lastly, passaging of a virus through a closely related heterologous host can result in selection of more virulent genotypes, thus improving virulence against the heterologous host. These and other strategies present tremendous opportunities for improved efficacy of baculovirus biopesticides.