Virin HSK and Helicovex SK – efficacy and safety of baculovirus-based bioinsecticides

Vladimir Ismailov,Irina Agasjeva,Alexey Kolosov,Grigory Ananko

doi:10.1051/bioconf/20202100022

Abstract

Insect pest control is a key mechanism to give humans advantage over insects in competition for food resources. Bioinsecticides are highly virulent in target insects, can control their populations and prevent a sharp increase in their number. The bioinsecticide Virin HSK was created in FBRI SRC VB “Vector”. Helicoverpa zea single nuclear polyhedrosis virus strain HS-18 is the active basis for Virin HSK. Here we studied the effectiveness of Helicovex SK and Virin HSK bioinsecticides as cotton bollworms control agent in comparison with the chemical insecticide Pirinex, CE and determined the safety of these insectisides for the entomophage. The flow rate of the working fluid was 200 l/ha. Helicovex SK and Virin HSK protected soybean during bean ripening and corn in the period from wax ripeness to harvesting. Helicovex SK and Virin HSK had higher efficiency than Pirinex KE.

Highlights

Insect pest control is a key mechanism to give humans advantage over insects in competition for food resources
Baculovirus-based bioinsecticides are highly virulent in target insects and prevent a sharp increase in their number [6, 7, 8]
On agricultural lands near Krasnodar (Russia), which belong to the II-zone of the black soil of forest-steppe and steppe regions in North Caucasian crop cultivation region, we carried out a microplot experiment to measure the effect of two bioinsecticides (Helicovex SK, Virin HSK) and a chemical insecticide Pirinex KE on cotton bollworm (Heliothis armigera Hbn)

Summary

Introduction

Insect pest control is a key mechanism to give humans advantage over insects in competition for food resources. High efficiency and safety for humans and environment makes viral insecticides one of the most promising components of integrated protection of vegetables, fruit and grain crops. Entomopathogenic baculoviruses may be considered as natural regulators to continuously control pest insect population at economically and environmentally safe levels [4, 5]. Baculovirus-based bioinsecticides are highly virulent in target insects and prevent a sharp increase in their number [6, 7, 8]. Their species-specificity guarantees the safety of non-target insects [9, 10, 11]. Despite obvious advantages of bioinsecticides, their use in crop production, including corn, is still limited. [6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18]

Methods

Results

Conclusion