A nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) from Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), collected from diseased insects in Sete Lagoas, MG, was confirmed and identified. The pathology of infected caterpillars is characteristic of NPV. The virus showed tropism by ectoderm cells, fat cells, and tracheocytes. Viral particles (polyhedra and alkali released virions - ARVs) were purified through diferential centrifugations in sucrose gradient, and the polyhedral band was located in the inferior third part of the tube. Increasing time of polyhedral digestion with alkaline solution resulted in higher dissolution of occluded bodies (polyhedra) consequently releasing virions. Five bands were formed for the alkali released virions. The electrophoretic pattern of S. frugiperda NPV was compared to the one of Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner) NPV for polyhedra as well as ARVs. A peptide of 32,000 dalton was characterized as the polyhedrin of S. frugiperda NPV.
Insecta; Spodoptera frugiperda; baculovirus
