Effect of Entomopathogenic Nematodes on Mesocriconema xenoplax Populations in Peach and Pecan

Authors

  • A. P. Nyczepir
  • D. I. Shapiro-Ilan
  • E. E. Lewis
  • Z. A. Handoo

Keywords:

biological control, carya illinoensis, entomopathogenic nematodes, heterorhabditis bacteriophora, mesocriconema xenoplax, nematode, peach, prunus persica, ring nematode, steinernema riobrave

Abstract

The effect of Steinernema riobrave and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora on population density of Mesocriconema xenoplax in peach was studied in the greenhouse. Twenty-one days after adding 112 M. xenoplax adults and juveniles/1,500 cm³ soil to the soil surface of each pot, 50 infective juveniles/cm² soil surface of either S. riobrave or H. bacteriophora were applied. Another entomopathogenic nematode application of the same density was administered 3 months later. The experiment was repeated once. Mesocriconema xenoplax populations were not suppressed (P = 0.05) in the presence of either S. riobrave or H. bacteriophora 180 days following ring nematode inoculation. On pecan, 200 S. riobrave infective-stage juveniles/cm² were applied to the soil surface of 2-year-old established M. xenoplax populations in field microplots. Additional applications of S. riobrave were administered 2 and 4 months later. This study was terminated 150 days following the initial application of S. riobrave. Populations of M. xenoplax were not suppressed in the presence of S. riobrave.

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Published

2004-06-15

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Section

Articles