PERSISTENCE OF VIRUSES AND DNA IN SOIL

With growing environmental concerns over the use of chemical pesticide s for insect control in both agriculture and forestry, increased empha sis is being placed on the development of alternative, biological pest icides such as genetically modified baculoviruses. Before the large-sc ale use of genetically modified viruses (GMV) can be realized, fate of GMV and their DNA in soil should be investigated. There are a number of factors that have the potential to affect persistence of both wild- type and genetically modified viruses and their DNA in soil. In this m ini-review, the persistence of viral particles and DNA in soil is exam ined with particular emphasis on baculoviruses.