Nematology (2002) 4, 483-487

Simon J. Piggott, Qhi-Zhi Liu, Itamar Glazer and Denis J. Wright (2002)
Does osmoregulatory behaviour in entomopathogenic nematodes predispose desiccation tolerance?
Nematology 4 (4), 483-487
Abstract: Infective juveniles of four isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes placed into balanced (mixed) salt solutions displayed varying levels of ability to osmoregulate under hyperosmotic conditions. The isolate with the greatest desiccation tolerance (Steinernema carpocapsae SCB-L1) showed the greatest osmoregulatory ability. However, the isolate with the poorest desiccation tolerance (Heterorhabditis sp. HIS-33) could also osmoregulate. One isolate with moderate desiccation tolerance (H. bacteriophora HP88) had the poorest osmoregulatory ability while another (HIS-28) showed good osmoregulatory ability. This shows that there is not necessarily a close link between hypo-osmotic regulation and desiccation tolerance. The need for separate screens for these different survival attributes is, therefore, indicated. Assessment of Heterorhabditis sp. isolate HIS-28 found that osmoregulatory ability and percent survival was greater in balanced salt solutions compared with single salt solutions, providing indirect evidence for a specific ionic regulation mechanism.
(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): Denis J. Wright

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

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