NUCLEAR POLYHEDROSIS OF HELIOTHIS - STABILITY AND RELATIVE INFECTIVITY OF VIRIONS

Virions released from inclusion bodies of the nucleopolyhedrosis virus of Heliothis zea by carbonate treatment were infective when fed to neonate larvae. The infectivity of virions, based upon occluded virions, was reduced about 99.99% by carbonate treatment. No increase in infectivity was obtained when released virions were recombined with solubilized polyhedral protein or with egg albumin. Characteristic deactivation curves were obtained after 14 days storage. The greatest loss in activity occurred at 50°C followed by 37° and 5°C. Infectivity after 225 days decreased about 16-, 100-, and 600-fold for virions exposed at 5°, 37°, and 50°C, respectively. © 1969.