Interaction of entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema thermophilum (Nematoda: Rhabditida)with fungal bioagents

摘要

Steinernematids and Heterorhabditids are lethal insect pathogens with immense biocontrol potential. Information on compatibility of these nematodes with other biocontrol agents could be useful for developing consortium of bioagents. Therefore, the compatibility of heat tolerant entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema thermophilum was evaluated with different fungal bioagents namely Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Paecilomyces lilacinus, Pochonia chlamydosporia, Trichoderma viride and T. harzianum under laboratory conditions. All these fungal bioagents were observed to have no harmful effect on survival or virulence of infective juveniles (IJs) of S. thermophilum. However, the interaction study of S. thermophilum and its symbiotic bacterium with entomopathogenic fungal bioagents namely B. bassiana and M. anisopliae in the solid growth media revealed the suppression of both the fungal bioagents by the nematode and its symbiotic bacterium without any adverse effect on the growth and development of the nematode. Hence, the study concluded that the fungal bioagents, P. lilacinus, P. chlamydosporia, T. harzianum or T. viride could be combined with S. thermophilum. as they were found compatible. However, the combination of S. thermophilum andB. bassiana or M. anisopliae, is not desirable for the management of same insect host.