Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus pesticide reformulation

Client: Horticulture Australia Limited

Project partner: Eureka Agrisearch!

Project delivery period: 2011-2014

This project was led by Eureka Agrisearch! and the aim was to improve the efficacy of several biological-based pesticides and baits.

IPM Technologies was involved in the testing of new formulations of a highly selective biological pesticide that targets caterpillar pests in the genus Helicoverpa (including Native Budworm, H. punctigera, and Corn Earworm, H. armigera). The product is a virus-based pesticide containing Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV). NPV is sensitive to UV degradation and so this project looked at possible reformulations of the pesticide to prolong the viability of the product under UV exposure.