FIELD EVALUATION OF Nuclear polyhedrosis VIRUS AGAINST STRAWBERRY PEST, Pentodon algerinum (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Recently in Egypt, Pentodon algerinum destroys the strawberry plant. This study aimed to evaluate Spodoptera littoralis Nuclear polyhedrosis virus (SpliNPV) and Pentodon algerinum Nuclear polyhedrosis virus (PNPV) for the first time against Pentodon third instar larvae in the field on Fortuna strawberry in Qalubia Governorate, and their impact on the strawberry yield to find successful safe alternative control method against this pest. The selected plots %Infestation by P. algerinum larvae varied between (18.18 to 48.9%) and (18.0 to 22.73%) before PNPV and SpliNPV treatments respectively. Statistical analysis confirmed that there were great significant differences between the %Infestation, %infestation reduction, and %healthy plants after PNPV & SpliNPV treatments compared to before treatments (the Probability (P) was 0.0 < 0.05). PNPV & SpliNPV have no significant difference in their effects (the Probability (P) was 1.0 > 0.05). In addition, there was very high significant difference between (NPV virus treated infested strawberry and untreated infested strawberry (P=0.005)) and between (healthy strawberry and untreated infested strawberry (P=0.004)) in weight and price. While there was no significant difference between NPV virus treated infested strawberry and healthy strawberry in weight and price (P=0.761). These results confirmed the success of PNPV & SpliNPV against this pest, and this success gave the plant a chance to regain its strength and productivity, confirming the safety of PNPV and SpliNPV for this plant. So PNPV and SpliNPV can be recommended as eco-friendly control agents against this pest.