Selective breeding of entomopathogenic nematodes for enhanced attraction to a root signal did not reduce their establishment or persistence after field release

Abstract

Addendum to: Hiltpold I, Baroni M, Toepfer S, Kuhlmann U, Turlings TCJ. Selection of entomopathogenic nematodes for enhanced responsiveness to a volatile root signal helps to control a major root pest.

Prospects in the Application Technology and Formulation of Entomopathogenic Nematodes for Biological Control of Insect Pests

“…After six generations of selective breeding, the selected population of H. bacteriophora responded 4-fold more quickly and strongly to (E)-"-caryophylene than the original one (Hiltpold et al, 2010a). As the selection did not impair the infectiousness of the EPNs (Hiltpold et al, 2010b), both populations were tested in the field and were exposed to two maize cultivars either emitting or lacking the ability to emit (E)-"-caryophylene (Hiltpold et al, 2010a;Rasmann et al, 2005). The application of EPNs significantly reduced the survival of D. v. virgifera irrespective of maize cultivars.…”

Nematode Pathogenesis of Insects and Other Pests

“…Yet, this apparent cost was largely compensated for by the higher responsiveness to the root signal. In further study, Hiltpold, Baroni, Toepfer, Kuhlmann, and Turlings (2010b) showed that the selection process had no negative effect on establishment and persistence of fieldreleased EPN. Bai, Shapiro-Ilan, Gaugler, and Hopper (2005) suggested stabilizing beneficial traits in H. bacteriophora through the creation of genetically homozygous inbred lines that can deter beneficial trait decline.…”

“…After six generations of selective breeding, the selected population of H. bacteriophora responded 4-fold more quickly and strongly to (E)-"-caryophylene than the original one (Hiltpold et al, 2010a). As the selection did not impair the infectiousness of the EPNs (Hiltpold et al, 2010b), both populations were tested in the field and were exposed to two maize cultivars either emitting or lacking the ability to emit (E)-"-caryophylene (Hiltpold et al, 2010a;. The application of EPNs significantly reduced the survival of D. v. virgifera irrespective of maize cultivars.…”

“…Selection of entomopathogenic nematodes for enhanced responsiveness to a volatile root signal helps to control a major root pest. Journal of Experimental Biology, 213, 2417-2423. Hiltpold, I., Baroni, M., Toepfer, S., Kuhlmann, U., & Turlings, T. C. J.…”

Integration of Plant Defense Traits with Biological Control of Arthropod Pests: Challenges and Opportunities

“…Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae), for instance, is highly effective against WCR larvae (Jackson, 1996; Toepfer et al, 2008; Pilz et al, 2009) but is not attracted to EβC (Hiltpold et al, 2010a,c). Selective breeding of H. bacteriophora , however, can increase the attraction of infective juveniles to EβC-emitting maize roots, thereby increasing WCR mortality (Hiltpold et al, 2010a,b). …”