Characterization of a nucleopolyhedrovirus variant of the gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) in Turkey |
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| Authors: | Zeynep Bayramoglu Donus Gencer Hacer Muratoglu Davut Efe Remziye Nalcacioglu Zihni Demirbag |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey;2. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey;3. Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Bingol University, Bingol, Turkey |
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| Abstract: | The gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L., Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) is one of the most serious pest of various forestal, food and industrial crops worldwide. We have characterized a new Lymantria dispar nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV-T4) variant, which was isolated from dead L. dispar larvae in Turkey. Scanning electron microscope observations showed that the polyhedral occlusion bodies (OBs) of the LdMNPV-T4 were irregularly shaped. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that OBs of LdMNPV-T4 were occupied with several virions in which multiple nucleocapsids packaged by viral envelope. Restriction analysis of the LdMNPV-T4 DNA purified from the viral inclusion bodies yielded BamHI, BglII, EcoRI and HindIII fragments. The mean size estimated for the complete LdMNPV-T4 genome was calculated to be 163.3 kb. Phylogenetic analysis of amplified polh, lef-8 and lef-9 sequences showed its relation to the other NPVs from Lymantria species. Mortality values of the LdMNPV-T4 at four different concentrations against third instar larvae of L. dispar ranged from 45% to 88%. These results suggest that LdMNPV-T4 isolated from Turkey is a promising microbial control agent to be utilized for the biological control of L. dispar. |
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| Keywords: | Baculovirus insect viruses virus isolation biological control phylogenetic analysis |
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