ISSN: 2578-4994
Authors: Clausi M and Leone D
Inoculation of some entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) in the field was carried out to evaluate their ability to persist in the soil. The experiment was carried out in a chestnut grove on the slopes of Mount Etna and some native species strains were introduced: Steinernema feltiae, S. kraussei, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, H. megidis. Checks were carried out to ascertain the presence of nematodes over time, for S. megidis the number of larvae present in the soil after 39 days from the introduction was calculated and the distribution of S. feltiae in the various layers of the land was followed. Persistence times varied according to the species: S. feltiae was found for several days and H. bacteriophora for a shorter time, in any case 14 weeks were never exceeded. The nematodes are able to penetrate deeply into the soil and this allows them to face adverse environmental conditions (mainly excessive drought) and to have more chances to meet the host insect.
Keywords: Entomopathogenic Nematodes; Persistence; Field Tests
