Establishment of a cell line from Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and replication of S. litura nuclear polyhedrosis virus in vitro

A new cell line, designated IBL-SLO1A, was established from pupal ovaries of the tobacco cutworm Spodoptera litura. Cells were grown in the TNM-FH insect cell culture medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. The subculture of cells was initiated with 1-3 x 10(5) cells/ml, a split ratio about 1:10. The growth curve of the cells fit the model of exponential growth (y = e(-0.6750 + 0.0317)X R2 = 0.98), the population doubling time during logarithmic growth at 28 degrees C was 21.9 hr. The number of chromosomes was about 140. Cytopathology characteristics of baculovirus infection were observed when the culture cells were infected with SINPV derived from alkali dissolution of occlusion bodies at 24 hr postinfection (pi). The cells lysed and released occlusion bodies into culture medium at 120 hr pi