Canadian Forest Service Publications
Optical brighteners enhance activity of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus against western spruce budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) 1999. Li, S.Y.; Otvos, I.S. Journal of Economic Entomology 92(2): 335-339.
Year: 1999
Issued by: Pacific Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 5218
Language: English
Availability: PDF (request by e-mail)
Abstract
Nine optical brighteners were tested using diet-plug bioassays in the laboratory to determine their effects on the activity of Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (CƒMNPV) against 4th instars of C. occidentalis Freeman. Five brighteners (Blankophor RKH, Tinopal LPW, Blankophor BBH, Blankophor P167, and Blankophor HRS) enhanced viral activity, whereas 4 did not (Blankophor BSB, Blankophor DML, Blankophor LPG, and Blankophor BSU). The effective brighteners enhanced viral activity 1.76-13.08 times. The optimal concentration of brightener for enhancing viral activity was 1%. Adding brightener reduced the time required for the virus to kill larvae by 30-72%. Further studies are required to determine whether active brighteners may enhance efficacy of CƒMNPV against C. occidentalis in the field.