AUTHOR=Li Xia , Men Xingyuan , Wang Jianhua , Lv Suhong , Li Lili , Cui Hongying , Song Yingying , Fang Xinsheng , Song Zhenqiao , Guo Wenxiu , Yu Yi 

TITLE=Curative efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes against white grubs in honeysuckle fields

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1155133

DOI=10.3389/fsufs.2023.1155133

ISSN=2571-581X

ABSTRACT=<p>Root-feeding white grubs are one of the most serious pests of honeysuckle trees (<italic>Lonicera japonica</italic>) in China, directly damaging their roots and facilitating infection by soil pathogens. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are considered as potential control agents against soil-dwelling insect pests. This study aimed to identify effective EPN species against white grubs through bioassay and field experiments. Among the EPN species screened against <italic>Holotrichia oblita</italic> under laboratory conditions, <italic>Steinernema feltiae</italic> and <italic>Heterorhabditis indica</italic> had low virulence, while <italic>S</italic>. <italic>longicaudum, S</italic>. <italic>glaseri</italic>, and <italic>H</italic>. <italic>bacteriophora</italic> applied at a rate of 400 IJs/larva caused a higher corrected mortality (80.00 ± 5.77%), which screened them as good candidates for future applications. The field experiments showed that both <italic>S</italic>. <italic>longicaudum</italic> and <italic>H</italic>. <italic>bacteriophora</italic> were approximately as effective in reducing white grubs as the insecticide phoxim, whereas <italic>S. glaseri</italic> caused a significantly lower reduction compared with these two EPNs and phoxim. Plant mortalities obtained from <italic>S</italic>. <italic>longicaudum, H</italic>. <italic>bacteriophora</italic> and the insecticide treatment plots were significantly lower than those observed in the water-treated control plots. All EPNs examined could establish well in the treated honeysuckle fields for 42 d, confirmed by <italic>Tenebrio molitar</italic> larvae baiting technique. Our findings suggest that EPNs could provide curative efficacy against white grubs and significantly reduce plant death in honeysuckle fields.</p>