Prepare for and combat the establishment of the old world cotton bollworm (helicoverpa armigera) in north america by release of sterilizing insterushz corn earworm moths

The corn earworm (helicoverpa ZEA) is a sister species to h. Armigera that mate and form fertile hybrids. The old world cotton bollworm is an invasive insect pest that threatens U.S. Agriculture. The proposed study will assess the potential for a sterilizing nudivirus HZNV2 isolate 90DR71 to sterilize h. Armigera through addressing four objectives: 1) documenting the efficiency of virus transmission within h. Armigera and the ability of the HZNV2 isolate 90DR71 to sterilize this host, 2) demonstrating the pathology caused by HZNV2 isolate 90DR71 in h. Armigera is similar to that in h. ZEA 3) assessing the HZNV2 isolate 90DR71 transmission characteristics in h. Armigera moth populations where HZNV2 is introduced through introduction of sterile insterushz h. ZEA moths, and 4) documenting changes in pheromone gland size and pheromone output in virus-infected h. Armigera. The proposed objectives were designed to develop a potential strategy to combat nascent or established h. Armigera populations through release of HZNV2 isolate 90DR71 infected insterushz h. ZEA moths to transmit the sterilizing viru s to h. Armigera and its offspring as a biopesticide, with a manner akin to the sterile insect technique but more efficient due to transmission of the infectious sterilizing virus. Helicoverpa armigera is an old world pest with a broad host range (over 180 plant species) that could cause severe economic damage to a variety of crops, including tomato, cotton, soybean, peppers, corn, small grains, and okra if IT becomes established in the united states. New tools, such as insterushz h. ZEA moths, to control or eradicate h. Armigera are needed to combat an invasive pest that threatens U.S. Agriculture. DR. Matt turnbull and his laboratory at clemson university will be responsible to determine tissue infection patterns of virus infected h. ZEA and h. Armigera larvae and analyze similarities in progression of pathology between the two sister species. The turnbull lab is experienced in the interactions and evolution of viruses and virus encoded factors with host insects and cell physiology. Immunomicroscopy and western blotting, epifluorescence microscopy to examine histology, and morphological analysis are used routinely in this work.