Analysis of virulence of baculoviruses to improve the biological control of cutworms (Agrotis sp.)

Different cutworm species are serious economic pests of most vegetable and field crops nearly all over the world. They are extremely difficult to control due to their soil dwelling behaviour. In Germany, the economically most important cutworm is Agrotis segetum, whereas in Egypt, the black cutwom A. ipsilon is a severe pest. In recent years, the black cutworm became an increasingly important pest in Middle Europe. An ecologically sound control method for many agricultural pests is the application of baculoviruses, which are insect-pathogenic viruses and have been developed to highly specific and environmentally benign insect control agents. Cutworms can be infected by three different baculoviruses AgseNPV, AgipNPV and AgseGV. We aim to study the virulence mechanisms of these viruses by molecular tools and hence improve the application of these viruses as biological control agents. By applying bacmid technology, candidate virulence genes of the viruses will be identified and functionally characterized. Knowledge of virulence genes is a prerequisite to optimize the application of these viruses. The efficacy of the viruses will be tested in greenhouse and/or field experiments. In co-operation with a biopesticide producing company a product will be developed. This project shall result in the optimization of the control of different cutworm species with different baculovirus isolates. By identifying and characterizing genes involved in the virulence, basic knowledge on the genetic requirements for their specific infectivity towards different cutworm species will be obtained. In collaboration with a company, experienced in producing and formulating baculovirus bio-control agents, test formulations of these viruses will be produced and tested in greenhouse and field experiments in Egypt and in Germany. The project will help to develop environmentally safe biological control methods of a pest species complex, which is extremely difficult to control and that will reduce the application of more toxic chemical insecticides and hence will also reduce exposure of consumers to chemical residues