Biocontrol potential ofSteinernema cholashanense(Nguyen) on larval and pupal stages of potato tuber moth,Phthorimaea operculella(Zeller)

Abstract

The potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), is a serious pest of potato and other commercial crops belonging to the Solanaceae family. In recent years, it has become an emerging problem in potato-growing regions of the Nilgiri hills of southern India. It is responsible for the reduced quality and quantity of marketable potatoes. In this regard, the development of an eco-friendly control method for the management of the potato tuber moth is urgently required. Therefore, in the present study, the virulence of Steinernema cholashanense CPRSUS01 originally isolated from the potato rhizosphere was tested on fourth-instar larvae and pupae of P. operculella. Steinernema cholashanense caused the greatest mortality in the fourth-instar larval stage (100%) than the pupae (30%). In addition to this, penetration and reproduction of this nematode was also studied in fourth-instar larvae of P. operculella and this is the first report of penetration and reproduction of any entomopathogenic nematode species on potato tuber moth larvae. The reproduction capacity of S. cholashanense on P. operculella is higher (702 infective juveniles mg−1 body weight). Our results indicated that S. cholashanense has good potential as an alternative tool for the management of P. operculella. But before including S. cholashanense in the integrated pest management program of P. operculella, its efficacy should be tested under field conditions.

Determination of efficiency of entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) on the potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller)) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) under controlled conditions

“…They determined that the fourth instar stage was the most susceptible. Mhatre et al (2020) reported that Steinernema cholashanense caused the greater mortality in the fourth-instar larval stage (100%) compared to the pupae (30%). Kepenekci et al (2013) investigated the efficacy of S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae and H. bacteriophora, which are detected in Turkey, against potato moth P. operculella.…”

“…EPNs can serve as an effective supplementary control as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy (Odendaal et al, 2015;Belien, 2018;Gulcu et al, 2017). A few studies have investigated the effects of EPNs against potato tuber moth ( Kepenekci et al, 2013;Mhatre et al, 2020;Yan et al, 2020;Orakçı, 2021).…”

Investigation of the Effectiveness of Some Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Steinernema feltiae-Balıkesir İsolate and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora-Çanakkale İsolate) Against Potato Moth [Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) by Green

“…Different studies have determined the activities of EPNs on P. operculella (Ivanova et al, 1994;Sweelam et al, 2010;Hassani-Kakhki et al, 2013;Abdelmonem et al, 2018;Moawad et al, 2018;Mhatre et al, 2020;Yan et al, 2020;Ebrahimi et al, 2021). Some studies also use EPNs to supplement chemical applications against P. operculella (Kary et al, 2018).…”

Multigene Sequence-Based and Phenotypic Characterization Reveals the Occurrence of a Novel Entomopathogenic Nematode Species, Steinernema anantnagense n. sp.

“…The diversity of the genus Steinernema reported in India is apparently very high ( Bhat et al, 2020a ), with 14 species isolated from Indian soils ( Bhat et al, 2021a ) from more than 125 valid Steinernema species. The Steinernema species that have been isolated from the Indian subcontinent include four from the “ Bicornutum ” clade: S. bicornutum ( Hussaini et al, 2001 ), S. riobrave ( Ganguly et al, 2002 ), S. pakistanense ( Bhat et al, 2018 ), and S. abbasi ( Bhat et al, 2021a ); four from the “ Carpocapsae ” clade: S. carpocapsae ( Hussaini et al, 2001 ), S. tami ( Hussaini et al, 2001 ), S. surkhetense ( Bhat et al, 2017 ), and S. siamkayai ( Bhat et al, 2021b ); three from the “ Glaseri ” clade: S. sangi ( Yadav et al, 2012 ), S. indicum ( Patil et al, 2023 ) and S. hermaphroditum ( Bhat et al, 2019 ); and three from the “ Glaseri ” clade: S. sangi ( Lalramnghaki et al, 2017 ), S. cholashanense ( Mhatre et al, 2017 ), and S. feltiae ( Askary et al, 2020 ). In addition, three species, S. thermophilum , S. meghalayense , and S. dharanai , were synonymized with already existing species: S. abbasi, S. carpocapsae , and S. hermaphroditum , respectively ( Ganguly & Singh, 2000 ; Ganguly et al, 2011 ; Kulkarni et al, 2012 ; Hunt & Subbotin, 2016 ).…”