Author
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SHAPIRO, MARTIN |
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Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 6/22/1998 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Optical brighteners are commonly used in detergents and in paper manufacturing to "make whites white, and brights bright." Research also showed that some of these brighteners (i.e., some stilbenes) could also protect beneficial insect viruses, fungi, and nematodes against harmful ultraviolet rays. More importantly, these chemicals somehow make the viruses more potent, so that the "bad bugs" die faster and less virus is used to kill the "bad bugs". This research has been patented and licensed to several companies, who want to use viruses to control harmful insect pest populations. Technical Abstract: Optical brighteners are commonly used in detergents and in paper manufacturing to enhance whiteness in clothes and paper. These chemicals have also been shown to be excellent sunlight protectants for insect viruses, insect fungi, and entomogeneous nematodes. In addition, some of these brighteners (i.e., stilbene brighteners) were also shown to enhance the biological activities of viruses. Initial research was centered on the gypsy moth and its nuclear polyhedrosis virus (LdNPV). Subsequent research demonstrated that the host range of some viruses could be expanded with the addition of selected brighteners. Enhancement could also occur in other host-virus systems involving the corn earworm, the beet armyworm, the fall armyworm, and the cabbage looper with homologous and heterologous baculoviruses. |
