Abstract:The entomopathogenic bacterium, Xenorhabdus nematophila was isolated from the hemolymph of Galleria mellonella infected with Steinernema carpocapsae. The bacterial cells and its metabolic secretions have been found lethal to the Galleria larvae. Toxic secretion in broth caused 95% mortality within 4 d of application whereas the bacterial cells caused 93% mortality after 6 d. When filter and sand substrates were compared, the later one was observed as appropriate. Similarly, bacterial cells and secretion in broth were more effective at 14% moisture and 25 °C temperature treatments. Maximum insect mortality (100%) was observed when bacterial concentration of 4×10 6 cells/ml was used. Similarly, maximum bacterial cells in broth (95%) were penetrated into the insect body within 2 h of their application. However, when stored bacterial toxic secretion was applied to the insects its efficacy declined. On the other hand, when the same toxic secretion was dried and then dissolved either in broth or water was proved to be effective. The present study showed that the bacterium, X. nematophila or its toxic secretion can be used as an important component of integrated pest management against Galleria.

Darban et al. / J Zhejiang Univ SCI 2005 6B(Abstract: Growth room and glasshouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of constant and fluctuating temperatures on the development of Pasteuria penetrans a hyperparasite of root-knot nematodes. Tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) were inoculated with Meloidogyne javanica second-stage juveniles attached with endospores of P. penetrans and were grown in growth room at 26−29 °C and in glasshouse at 20−32 °C. The tomato plants were sampled from the growth room after 600 degree-days based on 17 °C/d, accumulating each day above a base temperature of 10 °C and from the glasshouse after 36 calendar days. Temperature affected the development of P. penetrans directly. The rate of development at constant temperature in growth room was faster than that in the glasshouse at fluctuating temperatures.

Cells and cell-free solutions of the culture filtrate of the bacterial symbiont, Xenorhabdus nematophila taken from the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae in aqueous broth suspensions were lethal to larvae of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella. Their application on leaves of Chinese cabbage indicated that the cells can penetrate into the insects in the absence of the nematode vector. Cell-free solutions containing metabolites were also proved as effective as bacterial cells suspension. The application of aqueous suspensions of cells of X. nematophila or solutions containing its toxic metabolites to the leaves represents a possible new strategy for controlling insect pests on foliage.

No abstract

No abstract