Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Nematodes Versus <I>Diaprepes abbreviatus</I> (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Larvae in a High Clay-Content Oxisol Soil: Greenhouse Trials with Potted <I>Litchi chinensis</I>

Authors

  • David A. Jenkins
  • David Shapiro-Ilan
  • Ricardo Goenaga

Abstract

In a previous study, laboratory trials indicated that 9 strains and species of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) were pathogenic against larvae of Diaprepes abbreviatus in an Oxisol from Puerto Rico. In this study we tested the efficacy of 5 species/strains of EPN in an Oxisol under greenhouse conditions. The nematodes were applied at 100 infective juveniles per cm2 to 19-L pots containing a high clay-content Oxisol (69% clay) and 3 seedlings of Litchi chinensis. All treatments significantly reduced the mean proportion of D. abbreviatus larvae surviving (ranging from 0 to 36%) compared to survival in untreated controls (ranging from 80 to 86%). This suggests that EPNs might be suitable to play a role in integrated pest management strategies against D. abbreviatus in tropical soils with high clay content.

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Published

2008-03-01

Issue

Vol. 91, No. 1 (March 2008)

Section

Literature Review Articles

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