LEACHING OF NUCLEAR-POLYHEDROSIS VIRUS OF TRICHOPLUSIA NI FROM SOIL

The amount of nuclear-polyhedrosis virus of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, near the surface of soil in filed plots did not decline significantly in 231 weeks after application of polyhedra to the soil surface. Little virus was detected at depths greater than 7.5 cm. In laboratory tests the concentration of virus detected within 2.5 cm of the top of columns of soil or vermiculite remained nearly constant when the equivalent of nearly 9000 cm depth of water was passed through the columns. Drying of virus on the substrate before leaching and concentration of virus applied appeared to influence the amount of virus detected at various depths in the columns. © 1969.