Cross infectivity of baculovirus, Spilarctia obliqua nuclear polyhedrosis virus against mulberry pest, Porthesia xanthorrhoea Kollar.

Spilarctia obliqua nucleopolyhedrosis virus (SoNPV) has been found effective against S. obliqua (Walker) as well as Porthesia xanthorrhoea Kollar. LC50 concentration of S. obliqua SoNPV against S. obliqua and P. xanthorrhoea was 2.5 x 10(4) and 3.7 x 10(4) POBs/ml, respectively. LT50 of SoNPV against S. obliqua was 5.73 days, while it was 6.98 days for P. xanthorrhoea. Cross infectivity of SoNPV against P. xanthorrhoea and ease of its mass production may make it an ideal biopesticide.