Abstract
During a survey of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in Moghan region of Iran in 2015, a steinernematid species was isolated, using the Galleria-baiting method. Based on its morphological and phylogenetic analysis of molecular data, the isolate was identified as Steinernema carpocapsae. The ITS rDNA sequence was deposited in NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) with accession number of MF187616.1. Nucleotide row data was edited, using MEGA 6.0 software, and homologous sequences were involved in analysis, using Blast software. Sequences were aligned using Clustal W. Bootstrap analysis. The phylogenetic tree was constructed by the maximum likelihood method, using MEGA 6.0 software, and Steinernema feltiae was used as out-group. The turnip moth, Agrotis segetum Denis and Schiffermuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is one of the most important and destructive cutworm pests in Moghan. Therefore, the lethal effect of S. carpocapsae isolate Moghan (IRMoghan) was evaluated in a soil assay against the last instar larvae of A. segetum under laboratory conditions. The bioassay results showed high susceptibility of the larvae to S. carpocapsae. The LC10, LC50, and LC90 values were 9.9, 54.13, and 246.2 IJs (infective juveniles) per larva of the pest, respectively (χ2 = 7.36; df = 3, P value = 0.061). Reproduction of the EPNs within the dissected cadavers was observed. The bioassay results indicated that the new isolate is a promising biocontrol agent against A. segetum larvae with success recycling through them.
Highlights
Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) belonging to the genera Steinernema and Heterorhabditis are obligate parasites of insects, which kill their hosts through the septicemia caused by their symbiotic bacteria
The present study aimed to report the first record of S. carpocapsae from Moghan region of Iran and document its virulence against A. segetum under laboratory conditions
The phylogenetic tree was constructed by the maximum likelihood method, using MEGA 6.0 software, and Steinernema feltiae was used as out-group
Summary
Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) belonging to the genera Steinernema and Heterorhabditis are obligate parasites of insects, which kill their hosts through the septicemia caused by their symbiotic bacteria. The turnip moth, Agrotis segetum Denis and Schiffermuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an important pest in Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. The pest feeds on seedlings of a wide range of the Ebrahimi et al Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control (2019) 29:66 most important crops including corn, sugar beet, potato, cabbage, and many other plants (El-Salamouny et al, 2003). Due to their soil-dwelling habits, cutworms are difficult to control; S. carpocapsae as an ambusher species is a promising biological control agent against A. segetum. Some previous studies indicated the efficacy of this EPN against Agrotis species under laboratory and field conditions (Morris et al, 1990; Levine and Oloumi-Sadeghi, 1992 and Yan et al, 2014)
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