Insect viruses and their uses in protecting plants

Abstract

The present invention relates to an isolated small RNAvirus capable of infecting insect specifies including Heliothis species, and to the nucleotide sequences and proteins encoded thereby. The invention contemplates uses of the virus in controlling insect attach in plants.

1 . A substantially pure preparation of a  Helicoverpa armigera  stunt virus, wherein the virus can infect  Heliothis  species and  Helicoverpa  species, and wherein the virus was deposited at the Australian Government Analytical Laboratories under accession No. N92/35575.  
     
     
         2 . A composition comprising a virus according to  claim 1 , and an agriculturally acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         3 . A method of inhibiting or preventing insect development, the method comprising exposing the insect to the virus of  claim 1 , where the insect is a  Heliothis  species or  Helicoverna  species.  
     
     
         4 . A method of inhibiting or preventing insect development, the method comprising exposing the insect to the composition of  claim 2 , where the insect is a Heliothis species or  Helicoverpa  species.  
     
     
         5 . A method of killing an insect, the method comprising exposing the insect to the virus of  claim 1 , wherein the insect is  Heliothis  species or  Helicoverpa  species.  
     
     
         6 . A method of killing an insect, the method comprising exposing the insect to the virus of composition of  claim 2 , wherein the insect is  Heliothis  species or  Helicoverpa  species.