High genetic stability of peroral infection factors from Anticarsia gemmatalis MNPV over 20 years of sampling

• We analyze the genetic stability of per os infection factors (pif) genes from AgMNPV isolates.
• The pif genes have few genetic differences and the pif-2 gene shows the most variation.
• The pif genes sequences analyzed were conserved along 20 years of virus application in the field.

The Anticarsia gemmatalis multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) has been used as a biopesticide since the early 1980s in Brazil to control the major pest of soybean crops, the velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis. To monitor the genetic diversity over space and time we sequenced four pif genes (pif1, pif2, pif3 and pif4) from AgMNPV isolates collected from different regions of South America, as well as of seasonal isolates, sampled during a two-decade field experiment. Although all genes presented low levels of polymorphism, the pif-2 carries a slightly higher number of polymorphic sites. Overall, this study reveals that pif genes have remained stable after 20 years of repeated field application.

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