Population dynamics of pinewood nematode and the endoparasitic fungus Esteya vermicola: interactions under experimental conditions

Abstract

Esteya vermicola (Ophiostomataceae), an endoparasitic fungus, exhibits great potential as a biological control agent against pinewood nematodes (PWNs). The present study reports the interaction between PWNs and E. vermicola at different spore concentrations, number of PWNs and the time of culture. The addition of PWNs enhanced the sporulation of E. vermicola after 10 days of culture. The 5-day-old cultures of E. vermicola prior to addition of PWNs increased the highest amount of sporulation than that of 10- or 15-day-old cultures. The PWNs were completely killed by E. vermicola in the pine tree powder culture medium at the concentrations of 107 and 108 colony-forming-units (CFU) per ml. The interaction of the PWNs and E. vermicola was that PWNs provide nutrition to E. vermicola, however, the PWNs can also feed on mycelium of E. vermicola. The effect of E. vermicola on control of PWNs was determined by the population size, time of pest infection and the duration of co-infection.