The use of Phasmarhabditis nematodes and metabolites of Xenorhabdus bacteria in slug control

AbstractMany species of slugs are considered serious pests in agriculture and horticulture around the world. In Europe, slugs of the generaArion andDeroceras are the most harmful pests in agriculture. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of the whole-cell metabolites of 10 strains of fiveXenorhabdus and three slug-parasitic nematodes (Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, Phasmarhabditis bohemica, and Phasmarhabditis apuliae) on the feeding behaviour and repellent effect on target slugs and evaluate a new possible means of biocontrol of these pests. The repellent and anti-feedant effects of nematode-killed insects, metabolites, slug-parasitic nematodes and a combination of metabolites and nematodes were studied through experimental designs: sand-filled plastic boxes divided into two parts in several modifications: with deadGalleria mellonella killed by nematodes, lettuce treated with bacterial metabolites and lettuce placed on the treated sand. We found that slugs avoid eatingG. mellonella killed by nematodes, while they eat freeze-killedG. mellonella. Similarly, they avoid the consumption of lettuce in areas treated with bacterial metabolites (the most effective strains beingXenorhabus bovienii NFUST,Xenorhabdus kozodoii SLOV and JEGOR) with zero feeding in the treated side. All threePhasmarhabditis species also provided a significant anti-feedant/repellent effect. Our study is the first to show the repellent and anti-feedant effects of metabolites ofXe...
Source: European Journal of Applied Physiology - Category: Physiology Source Type: research