Abstract

LOPEZ-LLANO, Rubian Augusto  and  SOTO-GIRALDO, Alberto. ISOLATION OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES NATIVE IN RAW CANE SUGAR CROPS AND PATHOGENICITY TESTS ON Diatraea saccharalis (LEPIDOPTERA: CRAMBIDAE). Bol. Cient. Mus. Hist. Nat. Univ. Caldas [online]. 2016, vol.20, n.2, pp.114-123. ISSN 0123-3068.  https://doi.org/10.17151/bccm.2016.20.2.8.

Entomopathogenic nematodes are soil-dwelling organisms acting as important regulators of their ecosystem which are currently used as controllers of pests in commercially important crops. In this study, the presence of native nematode in soils from raw cane sugar crops located at the municipalities of Supía, Riosucio and Filadelfia of the Department of Caldas, was determined. The mortality caused by these organisms on larvae of Diatraea saccharalis was also evaluated. Fifteen isolates belonging to the genus Steinernema and 6 to the genus Heterorhabditis were found. Ten of the most virulent nematodes on Galleria mellonella (nine Steinernema and one Heterorhabditis) were selected for in vitro inoculation on last instar larvae of D. saccharalis using the immersion method, showing insect mortalities ranging from 10% and 52%, 72 hours after infestation. These results contribute to the knowledge of the diversity of entomopathogenic nematodes in the department of Caldas and give a perspective on the possible use of these organisms as an important component in the integrated management of Diatraea in raw cane sugar.

Keywords : biological control; integrated pest management; Steinernema; Heterorhabditis.

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