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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Southern Insect Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #371024
Research Project: Alternative Approaches to Tarnished Plant Bug Control

Location: Southern Insect Management Research

Title: First record of native entomopathogenic nematodes from Montana agroecosystems

Author
item SANDHI, RAMANDEEP - Montana State University
item POTHULA, RATNASRI - Brigham Young University
item POTHULA, SATYENDRA - Brigham Young University
item ADAMS, BYRON - Brigham Young University - Idaho
item Reddy, Gadi V.P.

Submitted to: Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2020
Publication Date: 7/6/2020
Citation: Sandhi, R.K., Pothula, R., Pothula, S.K., Adams, B.J., Reddy, G.V. 2020. First record of native entomopathogenic nematodes from Montana agroecosystems. Journal of Nematology. 52:1-11. https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2020-060.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2020-060

Interpretive Summary: Native entomopathogenic nematodes already adapted to local environment are thought to be well suited as inundative biological control agents to suppress different insect pests. These native nematodes can persist longer in the soil, resulting in better biological control efficacy. Our results indicated that Montana soils recovered isolates of Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora by using morphological and molecular analysis. These new species and strains might be utilized in future ecological and biological control studies against different economically important insect pests in Montana as well as other parts of the world with a similar climate.

Technical Abstract: A total of 30 different agricultural fields in the Golden Triangle Region of Montana were surveyed and 150 soil samples were evaluated for the presence of entomopathogenic nematodes. We isolated entomopathogenic nematodes from 10% of the collected samples. The recovered isolates were identified as Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora by using morphological and molecular analysis. Steinernema feltiae was found from two fields, Kalispell (S. feltiae 1) and Choteau (S. feltiae 2). Steinernema feltiae 2 and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora were recovered from the same field in Choteau. All these species were recovered from wheat fields with sandy clay loam and loam soils with 3.3-3.4% organic matter content and pH 8. However, additional surveys are needed because of the probability of the presence of additional and more virulent EPN species which can be added to the indigenous gene bank for further research.