Question

Baculoviruses (Nucleopolyhedrovirus) do not show
A) Host specificity
B) Narrow spectrum applications
C) Effects on non-target pathogens
D) Utility in IPM programme

Answer 1

The pathogenic insect virus which is used to monitor pests insects and for generating recombinant proteins as instruments are known as Baculoviruses. Many studies showed that both natural and genetically engineered forms of this virus are strong and important for crop safety.

Complete answer:
To answer this question we have to know about the Baculovirus in detail. Over 600 species of baculoviruses are identified and known to infect the invertebrates. Larval forms of moth species are considered to be the most common hosts, but these are also known to infect mosquitoes, shrimps, etc. and without dividing they can enter into the mammalian cells.

The pathogens that attack insects and arthropods or rodents are called baculoviruses. They are also used as biocontrol and act as a biological agent that belongs to the genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus and the Baculoviridae family of viruses. They are composed of double-stranded DNA that codes for genes that are required for the establishment and virus reproduction. They play an important role in the plant control of insect pests.

- These are the ideal candidates for insecticides applications in narrow spectrum insecticides, species-specific.
- It is very important for organic farming as pests.
- They do not affect or harm the plants, mammals, birds, fish and other non-target insects.
- This is helpful in the IPM (Integrated pest management) programme, in which valuable insects are retained or conserved.

So, the correct answer is option (C) Effects on non-target pathogens.

Note: The baculoviruses are species-specific. It reaches to the gut of the host after infecting them and releases occlusion bodies by this cell lysis occurs and the host cell starts to disintegrate.
Baculoviruses are used as gene delivery vectors, viral vectors, modern biotechnology, in agriculture as a biopesticide, also used to produce glycoproteins and membrane proteins, etc.