The stability and the persistence of two AgMNPV formulations developed by the Instituto Biológico and the Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil were studied. Formulations were stored in environmental conditions and exposed to ultraviolet radiation in laboratory and to solar radiation in the field. The wettable powder formulation (WP) was prepared by impregnating viral suspensions + adjuvants on inert mineral, chiefly kaolin. The emulsifiable oil formulation (EO) was prepared by mixing the pathogen suspension with corn oil + adjuvants. At 120-day intervals for 20 months, samples of formulations and the standard treatment (crude virus) kept in a laboratory cabinet were added to artificial diet fed to 4th-instar Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner) larvae. After 20 months in storage, the formulation EO lost only 18.3% of its original activity, whereas the formulation WP had its efficiency reduced to 11.7% after 12 months. No significant differences between the two formulations were observed when exposed to the ultraviolet germicidal light, and both formulations protected the virus when compared to the standard treatment. Under field conditions, the EO formulation enhanced the viral persistence, with >60% of the original activity present 14 days after the application. Most of the WP formulation was removed from leaves by the rain.
Insecta; nuclearpolyhedrovirus; storage; ultraviolet radiation
