A Stress-Induced Granulosis Virus of Pieris rapae

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
When larvae of Pieris rapae were reared at 25°C on dehydrated diet (ca. 50% moisture), mortality due to granulosis virus increased from less than 10 to ca. 40%; it increased to ca. 62% when larvae were fed dehydrated diet and exposed to 4°C for 10 days. The virulence of the virus produced in stressed insects was equal to that of granulosis virus grown in laboratory cultures. Larvae stressed until they showed external symptoms of virus infection (confirmed by microscopic examination and bioassay) recovered to an apparent healthy condition when provided fresh diet.