Potency of Silver Nanoparticles (SNPs) as UV protectant for HaNPV

Present investigation was carried out to test the potency of Silver nanoparticles (SNPs) as UV protectants along with tinopal and mango leaf extract at Department of Entomology, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola during 2011 - 2013. Formulated viral suspension was exposed to UV 20 W Philips lamp (Type 05, range 285 - 320 nm) for 15 minutes and to sunlight at noon hours for 30 minutes,1, 1.5 and 2 hours and determined the viability of POBs and larvicidal activity of viral formulations before and after UV lamp and sunlight exposure. Least reduction in POBs i.e 5.2 per cent was observed from HaNPV + Tinopal 1 %, also recording 86.67 per cent larval mortality when exposed to UV lamp, which was at par with HaNPV alone unirradiated. HaNPV alone when irradiated recorded 55.1 per cent reduction in POBs. HaNPV + tinopal 1 % when exposed to sunlight, protected the POBs upto 1.5 hour, recorded 20.5 per cent reduction in POBs and 83.89 per cent larval mortality. When exposed to 2 hours sunlight reduced the insecticidal activity of HaNPV even though tinopal 1% was used as UV protectant with HaNPV. Of the additives, tinopal 1 % was found to be most effective as it protected the POBs from UV degradation and enhanced larval mortality as compared to mango leaf extract 1 % and SNPs.