Resumen
- Lethal concentration and particle size of a Spodoptera frugiperda nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) was characterized and its compatibility with organic solvents useful for developing microencapsulation formulation technology was assessed. Lethal concentrations were established by bioassay and probit analysis. Viral CL50 and CL90 were 3.1×106 and 5.0×107 occlusion bodies (OBs) ml-1, respectively. Mean particle size of OBs was 1.7±0.4 µm, which is considered adequate for formulation using microencapsulation. Virus OBs were exposed to 16 organic solvents (Benzene, Chloroform, Xylene, Ethanol, Methanol, Dimetylsulfoxide, Toluene, Diethylic-ether, Heptane, Propanol, Methylene chloride, Acetone, Butanol and Hexane). Virus exposed to solvents had no negative effect on the biocontrol activity.