Behavioural avoidance by slugs and snails of the parasitic nematode <i>Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita</i>

Wynne, R.; Morris, A. Kimo; Rae, Robbie

doi:10.1080/09583157.2016.1185513

Cited by 20 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…vulgaris 37 . One explanation for this could be that slugs avoid soil treated with nematodes 54,55 . Since in our experiment slugs could not leave the area and find alternative food sources that are not contaminated with nematodes, they would feed on the lettuce plants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of chemical and biological slug control measures in response to watering and earthworms

Dörler

Scheucher

Zaller

2019

Sci Rep

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The Spanish Slug (Arion vulgaris , formerly known as Arion lusitanicus) is an invasive agricultural and horticultural pest species that causes great damages all over Europe. Numerous options to control this slug are on the market; among the most commonly used are slug pellets containing the active ingredients metaldehyde or iron-III-phosphate and the application of parasitic nematodes ( Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita ). These control measures potentially also affect non-target organisms like earthworms (Lumbricidae), which themselves can directly and/or indirectly alter a plant’s susceptibility against slug herbivory. Also, the efficacy of slug control treatments is expected to be influenced by watering. In a greenhouse experiment we investigated the influence of daily watering vs. every third day watering on slug control efficacy and potential interactions with earthworms. We found significant interactions between watering and slug control efficacy. Slug herbivory and biomass decreased after application of slug pellets; metaldehyde was more effective under less frequent watering while iron-III-phosphate was unaffected by watering. Parasitic nematodes had no effect on slug herbivory and biomass production. Earthworm activity was reduced with less frequent watering but did not interact with slug control. We conclude that watering patterns should be considered when choosing slug control measures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of chemical and biological slug control measures in response to watering and earthworms

Dörler

Scheucher

Zaller

2019

Sci Rep

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“…If P. hermaphrodita can be mutated then there is no reason why unbiased forward genetic screens could not be carried out to investigate an array of evolutionary and ecologically important traits. These include finding mutants that are defective in killing slugs, inducing slug avoidance (Wilson et al , 1999; Wynne et al , 2016) or failing to chemotax towards host cues such as slug mucus (Rae et al , 2006, 2009). As P. hermaphrodita is one of the candidates for the 959 Nematode Genomes project (Kumar et al , 2012) and several species are currently undergoing full genome sequencing, this will facilitate genomic comparison with closely related free-living nematodes, arthropod and mammalian parasites present in Clade 5.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development ofPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita(and members of thePhasmarhabditisgenus) as new genetic model nematodes to study the genetic basis of parasitism

Andrus

Rae

2018

J. Helminthol.

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The genetic mechanisms of how free-living nematodes evolved into parasites are unknown. Current genetic model nematodes (e.g. Caenorhabditis elegans) are not well suited to provide the answer, and mammalian parasites are expensive and logistically difficult to maintain. Here we propose the terrestrial gastropod parasite Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita as a new alternative to study the evolution of parasitism, and outline the methodology of how to keep P. hermaphrodita in the lab for genetic experiments. We show that P. hermaphrodita (and several other Phasmarhabditis species) are easy to isolate and identify from slugs and snails from around the UK. We outline how to make isogenic lines using 'semi-natural' conditions to reduce in-lab evolution, and how to optimize growth using nematode growth media (NGM) agar and naturally isolated bacteria. We show that P. hermaphrodita is amenable to forward genetics and that unc and sma mutants can be generated using formaldehyde mutagenesis. We also detail the procedures needed to carry out genetic crosses. Furthermore, we show natural variation within our Phasmarhabditis collection, with isolates displaying differences in survival when exposed to high temperatures and pH, which facilitates micro and macro evolutionary studies. In summary, we believe that this genetically amenable parasite that shares many attributes with C. elegans as well as being in Clade 5, which contains many animal, plant and arthropod parasites, could be an excellent model to understand the genetic basis of parasitism in the Nematoda.

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“…The nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita Schneider has been developed as a biological molluscicide but is considered expensive and ineffective against mature molluscs . Live nematodes have been shown to elicit avoidance behavior in some slug species …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10,11 Live nematodes have been shown to elicit avoidance behavior in some slug species. 12 Various plant-derived products (e.g. caffeine, neem, terpenoids, isothiocyanates) show promise as molluscicides and mollusc repellents.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fungal volatile organic compounds show promise as potent molluscicides

Khoja

Eltayef

Baxter³

et al. 2019

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUND Slugs and snails constitute major crop pests. Withdrawal of metaldehyde has prompted a search for more environmentally friendly yet fast acting molluscicides. This study investigated the response of representative molluscs to conidia and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum Petch. RESULTS Conidia of M. brunneum had antifeedant/repellent properties with repellency being dependent upon the fungal strain and conidia concentration. Three commonly produced fungal VOCs, 1‐octene, 3‐octanone and 1‐octen‐3‐ol, were repellent at low doses (1–5 μL) but could kill slugs and snails on contact or fumigation. At the highest dose tested (10 μL), 100% mortality was achieved for Cornu aspersum Muller (garden snail) and Derocerus reticulatum Muller (grey field slug) within 1 h post‐treatment with the first deaths being recorded in <11 min. Aqueous formulations (20% v/v) of the most potent VOCs, 3‐octanone and 1‐octen‐3‐ol, could be sprayed onto plants to kill or drive the pest of the crop with no phytotoxic effects. CONCLUSION The sensitivity of terrestrial molluscs to 3‐octanone and 1‐octen‐3‐ol and the ephemeral nature of these compounds makes these excellent candidates for development as mollusc repellents or molluscicides. © 2019 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

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Behavioural avoidance by slugs and snails of the parasitic nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita

Cited by 20 publications

References 28 publications

Efficacy of chemical and biological slug control measures in response to watering and earthworms

Efficacy of chemical and biological slug control measures in response to watering and earthworms

Development ofPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita(and members of thePhasmarhabditisgenus) as new genetic model nematodes to study the genetic basis of parasitism

Fungal volatile organic compounds show promise as potent molluscicides

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