Improving the biocontrol potential of Steinernema feltiae against Delia radicum through dosage, application technique and timing. Issue 5 (7th October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Beck, Bert; Spanoghe, Pieter; Moens, Maurice; Brusselman, Eva; Temmerman, Femke; Pollet, Sabien; Nuyttens, David
• Is Part Of: Pest management science. Volume 70:Issue 5(2014:May)
• Page Start: 841
• Page End: 851
• Publication Date: 2013-10-07
• Subjects: Pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Pesticides -- Periodicals; 632.9
• DOI: 10.1002/ps.3628
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1526-498X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ps3628-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ps3628-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p id="ps3628-para-0001"> <bold>The potential of the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) <italic>Steinernema feltiae</italic> Filipjev as a biocontrol agent against the cabbage maggot <italic>Delia radicum</italic> (L.), was assessed in three field tests, focusing on EPN dosage, application technique and timing</bold>.</p> </sec> <sec id="ps3628-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>RESULTS</title> <p id="ps3628-para-0002"> <bold>Spraying cabbage plant trays with different doses of infective juveniles (IJs) (50 000, 100 000 and 200 000 per plant) generated a similar reduction of plant mortality. Spraying plant trays with 200 000 IJs of <italic>Steinernema feltiae</italic> per plant temporarily reduced the number of maggots around the plants' roots, while neither spraying a lower dose (50 000 IJs/plant) nor soil drenching with 200 000 or 50 000 IJs/plant) reduced maggot numbers. When applied as a plant tray spray, IJs of <italic>S. feltiae</italic> took 1–2 weeks to spread through the soil surrounding the roots. The pathogenicity of the EPNs, as evaluated by a <italic>Galleria mellonella</italic> bait test, was highest (up to 100% mortality) until up to five weeks after application, and declined to control levels after 4–7 weeks. Follow‐up drench applications with EPNs, applied one and/or two weeks after the first EPN application, did not influence control of <italic>Delia radicum</italic></bold>.</p> </sec> <sec id="ps3628-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>CONCLUSION</title> <p id="ps3628-para-0003"> <bold>Plant tray spraying provides better placement of <italic>Steinernema feltiae</italic> than soil drench treatments for control of <italic>Delia radicum</italic>. Plant mortality was not dose‐dependent in the presented trials, unlike the reduction of maggot numbers. Further research into timing and application technique of follow‐up treatments with <italic>S. feltiae</italic> is required to increase efficacy to commercial standards. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry</bold> </p> </sec> </abstract>