Journal of Pest Science (2010) 83, 281-287

John Mukuka, Olaf Strauch, Christopher Hoppe and Ralf-Udo Ehlers (2010)
Fitness of heat and desiccation tolerant hybrid strains of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Rhabditidomorpha: Heterorhabditidae)
Journal of Pest Science 83 (3), 281-287
Abstract: Entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis are a suitable alternative to chemical insecticides because of their high control effect against insects in cryptic environments and their environmental safety. The availability of H. bacteriophora hybrid strains with increased tolerance to environmental extremes could be a driving force for a more widespread use of nematode-based plant protection products. However, increase in heat and desiccation tolerance of hybrid strains could compromise their fitness regarding virulence, host penetration and reproductive capacity. The fitness of heat and desiccation tolerant hybrid strains was compared to the commercial strain EN 01. Only the heat tolerant strains were superior or similar in fitness to strain EN 01. The strains with increased desiccation tolerance were usually less fit, a possible result of a trade-off effect of selection for desiccation tolerance. Hybrid strains selected for enhanced tolerance after an adaptation to stress were generally better in fitness ranking compared to those for which adaptation prior to stress exposure was excluded. This might be a result of pleitropy. Host penetration and virulence was not correlated. The commercial strain had the highest reproduction per mean number of nematodes penetrating the host insect, which is a result of automatic selection of inbred lines with high reproduction potential during the commercial production process in liquid culture.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Ralf-Udo Ehlers

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Heterorhabditis bacteriophora/Photorhabdus (entomopathogen)