Host-parasite interaction and implications on biological control: the relationship between the nematode Beddingia siricidicola and its host, the woodwasp Sirex noctilio

ANTONELLA FALCONARO; CORLEY JUAN; DEBORAH FISCHBEIN

Congreso; INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TOPWOOD, ADAPTING FOREST ECOSYSTEMS AND WOOD PRODUCTS TO BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC STRESS; 2019

In parasite-host interaction, the trade-off between transmission and the virulence of the parasite can affect not only the interaction but also the effectiveness of parasites as biological control agent when used in a biological control programme. Beddingia siricidicola Bedding 1968 is a facultative parasite nematode, considered the most effective biocontrol agent against the invasive woodwasp Sirex noctilio Fabricius 1973. The infective females of the nematode infect the wasp larvae and the juveniles are released into the hemocele. When the host pupate, the nematodes migrate and infect the reproductive organs and eggs of female wasps, sterilizing them. However, over the time, it tends to lose its sterilization ability. The main objective of this project is to study the interaction between B. siricidicola and S. noctilio in order to gain insight into the persistent parasite-host interaction and reasons for the parasitism variability of the nematode in Patagonia. For this I will 1) develop a mathematical model which would allow to predict the host population dynamic in function of the parasite?s virulence, 2) describe the parasite?s strains present in Patagonia, and 3) evaluate their effects and of the Sirex symbiotic fungus, Amylostereum areolatum, over the fitness and life history characteristics of the pest woodwap.