First Record of Steinernema kraussei (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) from Turkey and Its Virulence against Agrotis segetum (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

摘要

During a survey of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey in 2009–2012, asteinernematidspecieswasrecordedandisolatedusingtheGalleria-baitingmethod.Theisolatewasidenti?edas Steinernemakraussei based on its morphological and molecular properties.The analysis of the ITS rDNA sequence placed the Turkish population of S.kraussei in the ‘‘feltiae-kraussei’’ group in the clade that contains different isolates of the species.This is the ?rst record of S.kraussei fromTurkey.Theef?cacyofS.krausseiwastestedonAgrotissegetum(Lepidoptera:Noctuidea)larvae at differentdensities(100,300,and 500 infective juveniles (IJs) g21 dry sand ) in laboratory conditions at 25 8C.The highest mortality (98%) was obtained with 500 IJs g21 dry sand within 7 d after inoculation.Our results indicate that the new isolate is a highly promising biological control agent against A.segetum, one of the most serious soil pests of agricultural area and fruits worldwide.