C. P. Biji ¹, V. V. Sudheendrakumar ¹, S. Shabna ¹

Affiliations
1 Forest Entomology Department, Kerala forest Research Institute, Peechi 680 653, Kerala, IN

Abstract

Endophytes to which several roles of plant defense are ascribed have huge potential for development as biocontrol agents. Biocontrol prospects of two foliar endophytes, Phlebiopsis gigantea and Phanerochaete sordida isolated from Adhatoda vasica Nees and Andrographis paniculata Nees, respectively, are reported here. In per os treatment against third instar teak defoliator larvae [Hyblaea puera (Cramer)], P. sordida and P. gigantea showed considerable insecticidal activity in terms of median lethal doses (6x10⁵ conidia and 3x10⁸ oidia per larva, respectively). In dip treatment using oidial suspension, P. gigantea at its median lethal dosage inflicted cent percent mortality in less than a minute's time. This result is extremely fascinating considering its knockdown action and its enormous potential as a biocontrol agent.

Keywords

Biocontrol, Endophytes, Phlebiopsis gigantea, Phanerochaete sordida, Hyblaea puera.

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V. V. Sudheendrakumar ¹, T. V. Sajeev ¹, C. P. Biji ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Forest Protection, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi - 680653, Thrissur, Kerala, IN

Abstract

To overcome the problems in rearing the teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera on artificial diet in a two-piece rearing tube for HpNPV mass multiplication, a new three-piece tube was designed and evaluated. The two-piece tube (Tube A) consists of two parts - a cylindrical main body with one end open (55mm x 23mm) and a perforated cap. The three-piece tube (Tube B) consists of a main body with both ends open (55mm % 23mm), a diet cup (20mm % 22mm) and a perforated cap. Comparative evaluation of two types of tubes (main body of Tube A vs Diet cup of Tube B) was made in terms of their virus capture efficiency during inoculation and also easiness in diet dispensing and general handling. The short length of the diet cup of tube B favored highest virus capturing (added 30%) and efficient diet dispensing. Tube B could be an excellent option for rearing H. puera larvae for NPV mass production and laboratory culture maintenance and also for rearing of other lepidopteran larvae of similar behavior and size.

Keywords

HpNPV, Hyblaea puera, Rearing Tube.

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T. V. Sajeev ¹, V. V. Sudheendrakumar ¹, C. P. Biji ¹, M. Helen ¹, R. V. Varma ¹

Affiliations
1 Forest Protection Programme Division, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, 680 653, Trichur, Kerala, IN

Abstract

The economics of mass production of the nucleopolyhedrovirus of the teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera Cramer (Lepidoptera: Hyblaeidae) (HpNPV) using the laboratory-reared and field-collected (from teak plantations) host larvae was compared. The data were based on 7645 laboratory-reared (LR) larvae and 8925 field-collected (FC) larvae. The virus production was carried out using fifth instar larva inoculated with 1x10⁶ OBs (Viral Occlusion Bodies)/larva. The virus yield/larva in LR and FC larvae was 4.8x10⁸ and 3.6x10⁸ OBs, respectively. The virus productivity ratio in LR and FC larvae was 241 ± 55 and 178 ± 100.85 OBs, respectively. The cost of production of HpNPV per larva was higher in the case of LR (Rs. 0.82/larva) in comparison with FC (Rs.0.72). However, the cost of HpNPV required for spraying in one hectare at the rate of 1.63 x 10¹¹ OBs worked out to be Rs. 279 and Rs. 317 in the case of LR and FC, respectively. A marginal difference in the virus yield was found affecting the cost of the virus produced.

Keywords

Hyblaea puera, HpNPV, Mass Production, Nucleopolyhedrovirus, Teak Defoliator.

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