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Large-scale field propagation and the purification of the granulosis virus of the potato moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidotera: Gelechiidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

J. N. Matthiessen ,
R. L. Christian ,
T. D. C. Grace  and
B. K. Filshie
J. N. Matthiessen
Affiliation:
Division of Entomology, CSIRO, Private Bag, P.O. Wembley, W. A., Australia 6014
R. L. Christian
Affiliation:
Division of Entomology, CSIRO, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia 2601
T. D. C. Grace
Affiliation:
Division of Entomology, CSIRO, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia 2601
B. K. Filshie
Affiliation:
Division of Entomology, CSIRO, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia 2601
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Abstract

Approximately 300 000 larvae of Phthorimaea operculella (Zell.) infected with granulosis virus were collected from virus-treated potato crops in Western Australia. Modified crop culture and releases of laboratory-reared adults were used to boost the natural populations. Virus was applied as an aqueous suspension of pulverised diseased larvae. Infested foliage was collected into large polythene bags; the larvae were forced from their mines by heat and collected by washing in water. Collection and extraction took 100 h; field propagation of virus is thus inexpensive. The purification of the virus was carried out by differential centrifugation and separation on sucrose gradients. A total of 35 g of pure freeze-dried material containing approximately 1·35×1015 particles was obtained.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 68 , Issue 3 , September 1978 , pp. 385 - 391
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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