Dose Response of Omnivorous Leafroller to Commercial Formulations of Bacillus Thuringiensis Var. Kurstaki in the Laboratory, 1992

We compared three formulations of B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk) for their insecticidal activity against first-instar OLR. Products tested included: (1) NOVO Laboratories Biobit, a flowable concentrate containing live bacteria with spores and parasporal crystal protein bodies; (2) Abbott Laboratories Dipel 2X, a wettable powder also containing active bacteria with spores and parasporal crystal protein bodies; and (3) Mycogen Corporations MVP Bioinsecticide, a flowable concentrate containing dead bacterial cells which bioencapsulate the Btk proteins. The AI in each of these products is the insecticidal protein, or delta-endotoxin, of Btk. Dose-response was determined by feeding trials exposing first-instar OLR to each product. Serial dilutions of each formulation were made and 10 μ1 of each dilution was applied to the surface of an agar-based diet (Bioserv No. 9370) and then allowed to air dry. One larva was placed in each vial containing ca. 1 ml of surface-contaminated diet (surface area = 1 cm2). Thirty to 60 larvae were observed for each dilution and formulation tested. Doses were expressed in mg AI per sq. cm. Mortality evaluations were made after 3, 5, and 7 days. Response data were analyzed by the POLO-PC PROBIT procedure (LeOra Software, 1987).