Bio-efficacy of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) against serpentine leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii Burgess (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in oilseed crops

Abstract

Virulence and efficacy of Entomopathogenic Nematode (EPN), Heterorhabditis bacteriphora was tested against late instar larva of serpentine leaf miner, Liriomyza trifolii, under laboratory conditions. Five different Infective Juvenile (IJs) concentrations (10, 30, 50, 70 and 100 IJ larva-1) were used. The highest mortality rate caused by H. bacteriophora is 65.1% at 24 hours and 73.8% at 48 hours post inoculation at an inoculation concentration of 100 IJ larva-1. The minimum concentration of 30 IJs per larva shown 37.1% and 52.2% meanlarval mortality at 24 and 48 hours post inoculation, respectively. The virulence of H. bacteriophora (LC50) was established at 54 IJs at 24hours and 37.8 IJs at 48 hours for killing 50% of the larvae tested. The results of this study revealed the potential and scope of EPNs for their utilization in management of L. trifolii in oilseed crops.