| Efficacy of Larvanem® (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) on the white grub, Polyphylla olivieri |
| Paper ID : 1193-3IICE (R1) |
| Authors: |
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Hana Haji Allahverdipour *1, Aziz Sheikhi Garjan2 1Biological Control Dept., Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection 2Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection |
| Abstract: |
| The June beetle, Polyphylla olivieri is a polyphagous pest attacking roots and crowns of fruit trees, forest trees, field crops, ornamentals and turf grass. Plants damaged by the larvae succumb easily due to the root destruction and are loosely rooted. Adults feed on the foliage of host trees and intensify the damage. This pest has been reported from all provinces of Iran. Regarding the natural infection of grubs by Heterorhabditis bacteriophora in northeastern Iran, the effect of Larvanem® on P. olivieri was evaluated in orchard systems in 2018 and 2019. The collected larvae were transferred to (50 L × 30 H × 40 W cm) metal boxes containing soil at the medium depth of 11 cm and the boxes were placed deep in the soil. 750 ml of the nematode suspension at the concentration of 6000 IJ/ml was applied to each treatment which was much higher than the recommended dose. For each experiment, there were 6 replicates for treated larvae and 2 replicates for negative controls (water) with 21 individuals tested in each treatment. Treated larvae were monitored ten days after application. Mean of corrected mortality were recorded as 5.83% ± 0.023 in 2019 and 15.43% ± 0.026 in 2018 compared to 61.54% mortality in chemical treatment by Chlorpyrifos. The high number of emerged juveniles from the cadavers showed high proliferation of this species inside the P. olivieri larvae if nematode penetration and evasion from the defensive mechanisms have been accomplished. The low effectiveness of this commercial nematode-based product necessitates seeking for other benign alternatives. |
| Keywords: |
| Polyphylla olivieri, Control, Entomopathogenic Nematodes, Larvanem®, Effectiveness |
| Status : Paper Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
