Manifold passages in an assorted infection in a host could improve virulence of Helicoverpa armigera Nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaNPV)

Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is serious pests of cotton and several other crops. Helicoverpa armigera Nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaNPV) can be important alternative to synthetic insecticides for the management of H. armigera. However, the efficacy of HaNPV can vary in horizontal and vertical transmission. In the current study, we evaluated the efficacy of HaNPV of a virulent strain (vertically transmitted up to six generations) and wild strains (used after isolation from the field infected larvae). Both strains were applied to the 2nd instar larvae of H. armigera @ 1 × 10⁹ polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIB)/ml. There were six replications of each strain (strains). The results indicated higher mortalities in larvae exposed to virulent strains (68.33 ± 6.07%) as compared to wild strain (45 ± 2.24%). Virulent strains killed the larvae quite faster than wild strain. The lethal time (LT₅₀) to kill 50% of the larvae by virulent strain was 7.15 days and for wild strain it was 19.47 days. The results showed that multiple passage of HaNPV through several generations enhances its efficacy to kill H. armigera larvae faster. The results of this study will be helpful to manage H. armigera and other related lepidopoterous pests.