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Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) against the striped flea beetle, Phyllotreta striolata

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Abstract

The striped flea beetle, Phyllotreta striolata (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is an economically important pest on crucifer vegetables worldwide. Twenty isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) were evaluated against soil-dwelling stages of the flea beetle in the laboratory. The corrected mortalities and reproduction rates at a concentration of 36 infective juveniles (IJs) cm−2 surface area of sand against third instars of the pest greatly differed among the tested isolates, ranging from 6.7% to 100%. When tested over a range of temperatures from 15°C to 35°C, 25°C was found to be the optimal temperature for four selected nematode isolates (Steinernema carpocapsae All, Steinernema pakistanense 94-1, Heterorhabditis indica LN2 and H. indica 212-2) to infect the third instar and reproduce in the cadavers. S. pakistanense 94-1 and H. indica 212-2 showed markedly greater heat-tolerance compared to S. carpocapsae All and H. indica LN2. Corrected mortalities and reproduction rates increased as the concentration of IJs increased from 4 to 36 IJs cm−2. The LC50 values of S. carpocapsae All, S. pakistanense 94-1, H. indica LN2 and 212-2 were 17.1, 15.5, 6.5 and 5.9 IJs cm−2, respectively. The third instars larvae and pupae of P. striolata were more susceptible to the four nematode isolates than the first and second instars. Higher pathogenicity and greater heat tolerance and reproduction potential makes H. indica 212-2 the most promising candidate for the biological control of P. striolata under the field conditions of South China.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Belgian VLIR own initiatives programme ENCHIBE (Entomopathogenic nematodes for sustainable control of chive midge and flea beetle in China, VLIR reference ZEIN2007PR339), the China National Science and Technology Supporting Programme (2008BADA5B03) and the Planned Science and Technology Project of Guangdong (2009B050700033).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangdong Entomological Institute, 105 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou, 510260, China

    Caixia Xu & Richou Han

  2. Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Patrick De Clercq & Maurice Moens

  3. Institute of Plant Protection, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Baoding, 071000, China

    Shulong Chen

  4. Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 96, 9280, Merelbeke, Belgium

    Maurice Moens

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  1. Caixia Xu
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  2. Patrick De Clercq
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  3. Maurice Moens
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  4. Shulong Chen
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  5. Richou Han
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Correspondence to Richou Han.

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Handling Editor: Ralf Ehlers.

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Xu, C., De Clercq, P., Moens, M. et al. Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) against the striped flea beetle, Phyllotreta striolata . BioControl 55, 789–797 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-010-9300-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-010-9300-3

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