Moringa water extract promising additive to prolong the activity of baculovirus under field-sunlight conditions in Egypt

Abstract Baculoviruses are considered as effective bio pesticides except of being not active under sunlight conditions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the capability of moringa extract to prolong virus activity under Egyptian field conditions especially that Moringa proved to be strong protective material under previous investigation under laboratory conditions the addition of moringa filters were tested on tomato plant foliage. Results are based on leaf bioassay using Spodoptera littoralis test insect and its nuclepolyhedrovirus (SpliNPV) as standard materials. The Original Activity Remaining (OAR) and Lethal Infectivity Time to 50% (LIT50) were estimated after exposure to natural sunlight. cacao and green tea were tested as comparative materials, which proved to be effective as virus protective agent in earlier investigations. The results showed that moringa additive at 10% sustained 50% of virus activity for 193.53 hours and 62.05 and 23.023 hours post application for cacao and green tea; respectively. While virus alone treatment lasts for only 17.551 hours. Moringa generally available, relatively cheap; it also has been tested and proved to be non-toxic, safe, and friendly to the environment. The obtained results showed the activity of moringa water extract in prolonging the virus activity under field application.