Entomopathogenic Nematodes for the Management of Plum Curculio in Highbush Blueberry
<i>Conotrachelus nenuphar</i> Herbst (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a key pest of stone and pome fruits in the United States. Application of certain entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) species has shown efficacy in some crops when targeting the larval stage of <i>C. nenuphar</i>...
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/1/45 |
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| author | Ana Luiza Sousa Cesar Rodriguez-Saona Robert Holdcraft Vera Kyryczenko-Roth Albrecht M. Koppenhöfer |
| author_facet | Ana Luiza Sousa Cesar Rodriguez-Saona Robert Holdcraft Vera Kyryczenko-Roth Albrecht M. Koppenhöfer |
| author_sort | Ana Luiza Sousa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Conotrachelus nenuphar</i> Herbst (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a key pest of stone and pome fruits in the United States. Application of certain entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) species has shown efficacy in some crops when targeting the larval stage of <i>C. nenuphar</i> in soil. To date, however, no EPNs have been tested for the control of this pest in highbush blueberries. In 2020, laboratory and field studies were conducted to: (1) determine the persistence of <i>Steinernema riobrave</i>, <i>S. carpocapsae</i>, <i>S. feltiae</i>, and <i>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora</i> in acidic blueberry soil; (2) compare the virulence of these EPNs to <i>C. nenuphar</i> larvae and pupae; and (3) compare the efficacy of these EPN species to control this pest in blueberry fields. The greatest persistence in blueberry soil was exhibited by <i>S. riobrave</i> followed by <i>S. carpocapsae</i>. Superior virulence was observed in <i>S. riobrave</i> against <i>C. nenuphar</i> larvae and pupae. Promising levels of virulence were also observed in <i>S. carpocapsae</i> and <i>S. feltiae</i> against the larvae, but <i>S. scarabaei</i> had low virulence. In the field, <i>S. riobrave</i> provided significantly higher levels of <i>C. nenuphar</i> suppression (90%) than the other EPNs. The field efficacy of <i>S. riobrave</i> against <i>C. nenuphar</i> at low and high rates was confirmed in 2021. <i>Steinernema riobrave</i> has the potential to become an important component in the management of <i>C. nenuphar</i> in highbush blueberry. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:53:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ca22c0d131d4d5796590886e5dcdc8a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:53:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
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| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ca22c0d131d4d5796590886e5dcdc8a2023-11-23T13:00:13ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372021-12-011114510.3390/biology11010045Entomopathogenic Nematodes for the Management of Plum Curculio in Highbush BlueberryAna Luiza Sousa0Cesar Rodriguez-Saona1Robert Holdcraft2Vera Kyryczenko-Roth3Albrecht M. Koppenhöfer4Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USAP.E. Marucci Blueberry and Cranberry Center, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, Chatsworth, NJ 08019, USAP.E. Marucci Blueberry and Cranberry Center, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, Chatsworth, NJ 08019, USAP.E. Marucci Blueberry and Cranberry Center, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, Chatsworth, NJ 08019, USADepartment of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA<i>Conotrachelus nenuphar</i> Herbst (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a key pest of stone and pome fruits in the United States. Application of certain entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) species has shown efficacy in some crops when targeting the larval stage of <i>C. nenuphar</i> in soil. To date, however, no EPNs have been tested for the control of this pest in highbush blueberries. In 2020, laboratory and field studies were conducted to: (1) determine the persistence of <i>Steinernema riobrave</i>, <i>S. carpocapsae</i>, <i>S. feltiae</i>, and <i>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora</i> in acidic blueberry soil; (2) compare the virulence of these EPNs to <i>C. nenuphar</i> larvae and pupae; and (3) compare the efficacy of these EPN species to control this pest in blueberry fields. The greatest persistence in blueberry soil was exhibited by <i>S. riobrave</i> followed by <i>S. carpocapsae</i>. Superior virulence was observed in <i>S. riobrave</i> against <i>C. nenuphar</i> larvae and pupae. Promising levels of virulence were also observed in <i>S. carpocapsae</i> and <i>S. feltiae</i> against the larvae, but <i>S. scarabaei</i> had low virulence. In the field, <i>S. riobrave</i> provided significantly higher levels of <i>C. nenuphar</i> suppression (90%) than the other EPNs. The field efficacy of <i>S. riobrave</i> against <i>C. nenuphar</i> at low and high rates was confirmed in 2021. <i>Steinernema riobrave</i> has the potential to become an important component in the management of <i>C. nenuphar</i> in highbush blueberry.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/1/45<i>Conotrachelus nenuphar</i>biological controlblueberry<i>Vaccinium corymbosum</i><i>Steinernema riobrave</i> |
| spellingShingle | Ana Luiza Sousa Cesar Rodriguez-Saona Robert Holdcraft Vera Kyryczenko-Roth Albrecht M. Koppenhöfer Entomopathogenic Nematodes for the Management of Plum Curculio in Highbush Blueberry Biology <i>Conotrachelus nenuphar</i> biological control blueberry <i>Vaccinium corymbosum</i> <i>Steinernema riobrave</i> |
| title | Entomopathogenic Nematodes for the Management of Plum Curculio in Highbush Blueberry |
| title_full | Entomopathogenic Nematodes for the Management of Plum Curculio in Highbush Blueberry |
| title_fullStr | Entomopathogenic Nematodes for the Management of Plum Curculio in Highbush Blueberry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Entomopathogenic Nematodes for the Management of Plum Curculio in Highbush Blueberry |
| title_short | Entomopathogenic Nematodes for the Management of Plum Curculio in Highbush Blueberry |
| title_sort | entomopathogenic nematodes for the management of plum curculio in highbush blueberry |
| topic | <i>Conotrachelus nenuphar</i> biological control blueberry <i>Vaccinium corymbosum</i> <i>Steinernema riobrave</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/1/45 |
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