ESTABLISHMENT OF 2 CELL-LINES FROM EMBRYONIC-CELLS OF PECTINOPHORA-GOSSYPIELLA (LEPIDOPTERA, GELICHIIDAE)

Two cell lines from the most important insect pest of cotton, Pectinop hora gossypiella S., were obtained from an embryonic tissue culture. T he cells were cultured in GRACE'S modified medium. The first cell line , designated ORS-PgS (PgS), was obtained by selecting the nonadherent cells during subculturing and consisted of a homogeneous population of rounded cells. The second cell line, designated ORS-PgA (PgA), obtain ed without any artificial selection, was a heterogeneous population of spherical and spindle-shaped cells with a great capacity to adhere. T he two cell lines had a doubling time of 40 and 48 h respectively and were sub-cultured for more than 50 passages. Their polypeptidic profil es appeared identical but were different from those of other lepidopte ran cell lines tested. The two cell lines support the multiplication o f Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus, producing 10(5) plaque forming units/ml. In 1 to 2% PgS cells, polyhedra were synthesized, wh ereas PgA cells multiplied only virions.