Abstract
Entomopathogenic nematodes within the genus Steinernema are used as biological control agents against significant agricultural pests. Steinernema diaprepesi is native to Florida and very effective in controlling citrus root weevil, a devastating pest of citrus, ornamental plants, and vegetables. Here, we present the draft genome of Steinernema diaprepesi, which is a valuable tool for understanding the efficacy of this nematode as a biological control agent.
Highlights
Citrus root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviates, is an important pest of citrus, ornamental plants, and other vegetables in Florida and is spreading throughout southern Texas and southern California (Lapointe et al, 2007; Stuart et al, 2008; Cherry et al, 2011)
Studies on the use of biological control agent to manage this weevil has been of interest for the past couple of decades (Beavers et al, 1983; Shapiro et al, 2000) and as a result, the use of entomopathogenic nematodes as control agents was found to be effective on D. abbreviates larva (McCoy et al, 2002; Ali et al, 2010; Duncan et al, 2013)
S. diaprepesi relies on the toxin produced by its symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus doucetiae to kill insect hosts (Goodrich-Blair and Clarke, 2007; Stock and Blair, 2008; Castillo et al, 2011)
Summary
Diaprepes abbreviates, is an important pest of citrus, ornamental plants, and other vegetables in Florida and is spreading throughout southern Texas and southern California (Lapointe et al, 2007; Stuart et al, 2008; Cherry et al, 2011). Entomopathogenic nematodes endemic to citrus growing regions in Florida include Steinernema diaprepesi and S. khuongi and their role in determining the distribution of root weevil is evident (Nguyen and Duncan, 2002; Duncan et al, 2003; Stuart et al, 2008; Campos-Herrera et al, 2013; Stock et al, 2018). The endemic entomopathogenic nematode S. diaprepesi is commercially applied to control citrus root weevil. The full genome sequence of X. doucetiae is currently available and provides a resource for understanding the evolution of virulence genes in bacteria.
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