Sequencial passages of the multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus of Anagrapha falcifera(Kirby) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) (AfMNPV) in Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of Anagrapha falcifera (AfMNPV) multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus passages in the S. cosmioides caterpillar’s biology at different times of infection and histological changes that the virus could cause in the caterpillar midgut, seeking correlate histopathologic effects to the effectiveness of this virus as a potential biological control of this pest. Larvae were infected with seven days of development, by using three different passages of AfMNPV on S. cosmioides (F1, F4 and F7, which is the first, fourth and seventh passages, respectively) and the control treatment. Compared biology assays with the same treatments for analyzing behavior and mortality of caterpillars were performed concomitantly. The midgut morphology was compared between infected and uninfected larvae. The digestive tubes were collected at 24, 72 and 144 hours of infection (20 tubes/treatment/time of infection). After collection, the digestive tubes were fixed in Karnovsky, processed, stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin, and examined under a light microscope. The biology results of F4 and F7treatments, showed a drastic reduction in locomotion and feeding from the fourth day after infection and higher cumulative mortality rate compared to the control and F1. All treatments caused morphological changes in the midgut of S. cosmioides, in the three times of infection, with the greatest changes occurring at the epithelium. The AfMNPV, in the three passages tested in S. cosmioides, caused behavioral and morphological changes in the midgut, indicating that it can be a promising agent for biological control of this pest.