International Journal of Nematology (2006) 16, 186-193

Yadwinder S. Deol, Sukhbir K. Grewal, Luis Cañas, M. Yelnik and Parwinder S. Grewal (2006)
An assessment of entomopathogenic nematode delivery through a commercial potting medium and a garden soil
International Journal of Nematology 16 (2), 186-193
Abstract: Much improvement is needed in application and delivery of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) for their widespread acceptance as biopesticides. We assessed the possibility of directly delivering EPNs through commercial potting medium and garden soil which are used in nurseries, greenhouses and interioscapes for growing plants. Survival of commercially in vitro produced Steinernema carpocapsae, S. feltiae and Heterorhabditis zealandica was compared in bags containing potting medium and garden soil when stored at 22°C for two months. S. feltiae showed the highest survival of 32% and 23% after one month of storage at 22°C in the garden soil and potting medium, respectively. The survival of all three species declined below 5% after two months of storage in both the garden soil and potting medium. The survival of in vivo produced S. carpocapsae also declined to below 5% after two months of storage in the garden soil and potting medium. Virulence was higher in the in vivo compared to in vitro produced S. carpocapsae. Development of methods to enhance nematode survival in the commercially produced potting medium and garden soil may open this unique market for EPNs.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Parwinder S. Grewal, Luis A. Canas

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
application technology
formulation/storage of bioagents

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Steinernema carpocapsae/Xenorhabdus nematophila (entomopathogen)
Steinernema feltiae/Xenorhabdus bovienii (entomopathogen)
Heterorhabditis zealandica (entomopathogen)