Pheromone extracts act as boosters for entomopathogenic nematodes efficacy.
J Invertebr Pathol
; 164: 38-42, 2019 06.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31034842
ABSTRACT
Inconsistency in entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) efficacy is still one of the biggest challenges for the wider adoption of EPNs as biocontrol agents. Previous studies demonstrated that extracts from EPN-infected hosts enhance dispersal and efficacy, two key factors in success of EPNs. Some active components in the insect host cadavers responsible for dispersal, ascarosides, have been identified as nematode pheromones. We hypothesized that pheromone extracts increase dispersal of EPN infective juveniles (IJs) leading to increased efficacy. First, we determined whether pheromone extracts improved IJ movement/dispersal in soil columns baited with Tenebrio molitor larvae. We found that pheromone extracts induced higher numbers of Steinernema carpocapsae and Steinernema feltiae IJs to move towards T. molitor larvae in the bottom of the column compared to IJs treated with infected cadaver macerate and water, positive and negative controls, respectively. Furthermore, the number of S. carpocapsae IJs that invaded T. molitor larvae was higher for the pheromone extract treatment than the controls. S. feltiae IJs that were pretreated with pheromone extracts and macerate (positive control) infected T. molitor at the same rate but invasion was superior to IJs that were treated with water. Consistent with the soil column tests, both S. carpocapsae and S. feltiae IJs treated with pheromone extracts performed better in killing larvae of two economically important insect larvae, pecan weevil, Curculio caryae, and black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, in greenhouse tests compared to IJs treated with water. We demonstrated pheromone-mediated behavioral manipulation of a biological control agent to enhance pest control potential. Conceivably, nematodes can be exposed to efficacy-enhancing pheromones prior to field application.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Feromônios
/
Infecções por Rhabditida
/
Rabditídios
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Invertebr Pathol
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos