Characterization of a non-occluded baculovirus (subgroup C) from the field cricket, Gryllus rubens

A non-occluded baculovirus was isolated from nymphs of the field cricket, Gryllus rubens. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of 6 major and 11 minor polypeptides in these particles. Restriction endonuclease analysis indicated that the genome, 87.0 +/- 1.8 kilobase pairs, was a closed circular DNA molecule. DNA-DNA hybridization in low strigency conditions revealed no homology with the genomes of Oryctes baculovirus or Autographa california NPV. The virus replicated in nuclei of fat body cells, and was transmitted per os to a small proportion of first instar G. rubens nymphs.