Survey on natural occurrence of Cydia Pomonella granulovirus in apple orchards of Iran

Abstract

The Cydia pomonella granulovirlls (CpGV) is a very effective biological control agent against codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lep.: Tortricidae). Its isolation from natural populations of codling moth is difficult and only a few isolates have been described in the world, because diseased larvae usually rupture and disintegrate and can not be found on the trees. So, in this survey, lots of corrugated cardboard trap bands were placed around the trunks of apple trees in different regions of Iran and they were surveyed for codling moth larvae infected by CpGV. At least, 11 natural isolates from Northwest and Northeast of Iran were collected and surveyed. Viruses from single or pooled infected larvae were isolated and propagated in the fourth in star larvae of the codling moth. Light and electron microscopy studies confirmed the presence of granulovirus in codling moth populations of the above mentioned regions