Effect of Steinernema rarum and its symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus szentirmaii on Nacobbus aberrans.

LAX P.; RONDAN DUEÑAS J., CACCIA M.; MARRO N.; BECERRA A.; DOUCET M.

Congreso; XLV ONTA Annual Meeting; 2013

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) (families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) are used as biological control agents of insect pests. Infective juveniles (IJ) of the nematode carry symbiotic bacteria (SB) in their intestine that kill the host. The EPN-SB complex has been shown to have an antagonistic effect on certain plant-parasitic nematodes. The SB Xenorhabdus szentirmaii was isolated from an Argentine isolate of Steinernema rarum. The nematicidal activity of the SB on second stage juveniles and on hatching of Nacobbus aberrans eggs was evaluated in vitro. In addition, under controlled conditions the effect of IJ application of the EPN in the soil was analyzed, as well as the effect of the SB and its metabolites on N. aberrans in tomato. The results showed that the number of galls and the reproduction factor of the plant-parasitic nematode decreased significantly in the treated plants, both in sterile and non-sterile soil. The results obtained show the promising potential of the NEP-SB complex for the management of N. aberrans.