A naturally occurring insect virus which kills the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) has been genetically 'marked' so that scientists can track its movements in the environment.
The marked virus may be released in Narrabri in the new year, if approved by Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee (GMAC).
The release of this marked nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaSNPV) at the Australian Cotton Research Institute (ACRI) will be the first release of a genetically modified insect virus in Australia.
Dr Andrew Richards of CSIRO Entomology, who is in charge of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the viruses, said the release was part of a program to develop commercially viable virus insecticides, and to replace the use of chemical pesticides.
"Naturally occurring NPVs which kill the cotton bollworm have been known for some time, but when used in the field, they were too slow in disabling the insect to make them commercially viable" Dr Richards said. "The infected bollworm could still inflict great damage on the cotton before dying.
"In collaboration with Crop Care Australasia and Zeneca Agrochemicals Ltd (UK), CSIRO Entomology has been developing genetically engineered NPVs with enhanced insecticidal potential, that is, with improved speed of action.
"Before commercial release of these novel viral insecticides can proceed, however, possibly around the turn of the century, a full EIA has to be conducted. Factors to be taken into account by the EIA are host-range, environmental persistence, virus dispersal, transmissibility and genetic recombination" Dr Richards said.
"The genetically marked virus can only infect the cotton bollworm and a few related moth species. Releasing the marked virus will allow us to monitor its movement away from a release site and so help us design future field efficacy tests using genetically enhanced viruses with minimum risk to the environment".
Dr Richards said the genetically marked virus has been modified in such a way that it can be unequivocally identified and differentiated from closely related viruses present at the release site and in the surrounding environment.
"Data from this study should help expedite the release of safe and effective commercial products for the control of some of agriculture's major insect pests" he concluded.
More information from:
Dr Andrew Richards (02) 6246 4171 /4114 /4380