Comparison of the time-mortality response of Heliothis zea to 14 isolates of Heliothis nuclear polyhedrosis virus

Abstract

Twelve singly embedded isolates (SEV) and two multiply embedded isolates (MEV) of nuclear polyhedrosis viruses from Heliothis larvae were compared by time-mortality assays in neonate H. zea larvae. The isolates could be separated into six groups based on differences in the 50% survival time (ST50) values. Isolates with identical restriction endonuclease (REN) profiles did not differ significantly in their ST50 values, whereas isolates with several different REN cleavage sites also had significantly different ST50 values. With the exception of one isolate from India, the singly embedded isolates acted faster than the multiply embedded isolates. © 1983.