Modified virus could become insecticide

Most producers of ornamental and agricultural crops know tobacco mosaic virus for the damage that it causes to plants, especially those in the Solanaceae family. Plants infected with the virus develop discolored foliage, lose leaves and often die.

University of Florida researchers have genetically modified the virus so that it produces a natural, environmentally friendly insecticide. The modified virus is almost completely harmless to plants and produces an insecticide that has no impact on humans, but causes insects to starve to death.

The virus, which has a broad host range, is easily reproduced in plants, but it does not replicate itself from one plant generation to another. The virus could not be used in monocot plants, but would be effective in broad-leafed plants, including ornamentals, vegetables and fruits.

The exact range of pests that are susceptible to the insecticide appears to be broad. Vulnerable insects are usually dead within 72 hours.

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For more: Dov Borovsky, University of Florida-IFAS, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, 200 9th St. S.E. (Oslo Road), Vero Beach, FL 32962; dobo@mail.ifas.ufl.edu; http://news.ifas.ufl.edu.