Microencapsulation and Ultraviolet Protectants to Increase Sunlight Stability of an Insect Virus1

Abstract

Technical preparations of Heliothis nucleopolyhedrosis virus were inactivated after exposure to either artificial or natural sunlight. The extent of inactivation increased as exposure time increased until a residual of 10-15% of the original viral activity remained. Inactivation under artificial sunlight closely approximated that of natural sunlight. Microencapsulation per se did not provide significant protection against sunlight unless UV-protectants were included. Nonencapsulated combinations of virus + carbon were as effective as encapsnlated combinations of virus + carbon.