Screening of entomopathogenic nematodes (Nemata: Rhabditida) and the efficiency of Heterorhabditis sp. against the sugarcane root spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata (Fabr.) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)

The pathogenicity of six entomopathogenic nematodes was assessed against nymphs of the sugarcane root spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata (Fabr.), in the laboratory. The efficiency of the most virulent agent was tested in the field. Seven laboratory treatments were designed with two specimens of the genus Heterorhabditis, three of Steinernema, one specimen of Steinernema glaseri (Steiner), and a control group. In the field, two experiments were conducted. The first experiment involved nine treatments: the control, four treatments with Heterorhabditis sp. (CB-n5) applied to the straw mulch at doses 6.6 x 10(7), 3.3 x 10(8), 6.6 x 10(8) and 3.3 x 10(9) IJs/ha, and four treatments with the nematodes applied to the soil and beneath the straw mulch layer, at the same doses. The second experiment contained four treatments: the control and applications of Heterorhabditis sp. (3.3 x 10(8) IJs/ha), the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (2.6 x 10(12) viable conidia/ha), and the chemical insecticide thiamethoxan (Actara 200 WG) (1 kg/ha). Heterorhabditis sp. (CB-n5), Steinernema sp. (CB-n6), and Heterorhabditis sp. (CCA) were the three most virulent nematodes (100%, 98%, and 96% mortality, respectively). In the first field experiment, Heterorhabditis sp. controlled 74% of the insects, with no significant difference among doses or between application to the soil or mulch. In the second experiment, the chemical insecticide provided 67% control, not differing statistically from nematode (56%) or fungus (44%) control, seven days post-treatment.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Leite,Luís G., Machado,Laerte A., Goulart,Roberto M., Tavares,Fernando M., Batista Filho,Antonio
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil 2005
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1519-566X2005000500010
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!