Natural incidence of Pieris brassicae Granulosis virus among the population of Pieris brassicae

Abstract

Isolating GVs from naturally infected insects provides insight into the biodiversity of these naturally occurring pathogens and provides a pool of potential biocontrol agents. Since native strains are always preferred for sustainability, adaptability and efficacy in given agroecosystem. Therefore, exploratory surveys carried out to isolate naturally occurring strains of Pieris brassicae Granulosis virus in the population proved the existence of Granulosis virus in the natural populations of P. brassicae in Jammu & Kashmir range of North-Western Himalayas. The natural incidence of GV in P. brassicae larvae is very low in the natural population of Jammu and Kashmir. A total of 3 isolates were isolated from Jammu and Kashmir range of North –Western Himalayas in the present study. The natural incidence of GV in P. brassicae larvae varied from 0.95 % – 6.88 %. The highest and lowest incidence of 6.88 per cent and 0.95 per cent was observed on cabbage crop from district Udhampur (Sudhmahadev) and Jammu (Chatha), respectively. However, no natural incidence of GV was observed in Kashmir division of Jammu and Kashmir.