Effect of entomopathogenic nematodes on the plant-parasitic nematode Nacobbus aberrans

Abstract

Nacobbus aberrans is a sedentary endoparasite nematode that forms galls in the roots of infected plants and produces important economic losses in some countries of the American continent. It has a wide host range, attacking mainly potato, tomato, sugar beet, and pepper crops. A reduction in the plant-parasitic nematode populations in the presence of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) has been frequently reported. In the present work, the effect of the application of two native EPN isolates (Steinernema rarum and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) on a N. aberrans population was evaluated in tomato plants under greenhouse conditions. Sixty days after inoculation, the number of galls and egg masses and the reproduction factor (RF) of N. aberrans were calculated. Of the variables analyzed, only the RF was significantly lower in both EPN treatments than in control. N. aberrans reproduction decreased by 57 and 53 % in plants inoculated with S. rarum and H. bacteriophora, respectively. These results showed that EPNs and their bacterial symbionts affected the reproductive potential of the N. aberrans population. This is the first study addressing the use of EPNs in the control of this important plant-parasitic nematode.