The influence of Bacillus thuringiensis on baculovirus transmission dynamics in the cabbage moth, Mamestra brassicae

Hesketh, Helen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1794-7658; Hails, Rosemary. 2008 The influence of Bacillus thuringiensis on baculovirus transmission dynamics in the cabbage moth, Mamestra brassicae. [Speech] In: 41st Annual General Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathologyand 9th International Conference on Bacillus thuringiensis (incorporating COST862 Action* Bacterial Toxins for Insect Control), Warwick, UK, 3-7 August 2008. Society for Invertebrate Pathology, 44.

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Abstract/Summary

Baculoviruses can be combined with other entomopathogens to achieve improved biological control of insect pests. Understanding the population ecology of interacting pathogens and specifically the transmission dynamics in pathogen combinations will assist in predicting the outcome of integrated biological control strategies. We tested the hypothesis that the presence of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Btk) in manipulated cabbage moth (Mamestra brassicae) field populations would affect the transmission dynamics of Panolis flammea nucleopolyhedrovirus (PaflNPV). The combination of spraying Btk with PaflNPV resulted in first generation larvae being more likely to be infected with virus when Btk was present. The acquisition of baculovirus infection as exposure time increased was found to be highly non-linear. In the presence of Btk the number of insects that were able to escape NPV infection was reduced through a combination of changes in host feeding behaviour and delay in onset of host developmental resistance. Viral cadavers in the presence of Btk produced significantly lower viral yields compared to those in the absence of Btk. When second generation larvae were exposed to these viral cadavers in situ, there were significant reductions in subsequent viral mortality. The impact of these results for season long Lepidoptera control are discussed.

Item Type:	Publication - Conference Item (Speech)
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity > BD03 The Genetic Basis of Ecological Function > BD03.2 Ecology of host parasite interactions CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity > BD01 Conservation and Restoration of Biodiversity > BD01.4 Management of species and ecosystems CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity > BD02 An Integrated Framework for the Sustainable Management of Biological Introductions - Alien Species and Emerging Diseases > BD02.2 Species and ecosystem vulnerability to invasions CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity > BD01 Conservation and Restoration of Biodiversity > BD01.3 Population and community processes
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Hails
NORA Subject Terms:	Agriculture and Soil Science Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	16 Feb 2009 10:07 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/5699

Item Type:

Publication - Conference Item (Speech)

Programmes: