Abstract
The present study aims at determining the desiccation tolerance of entomopathogenic nematodes from the genusHeterorhabditis recently isolated in Israel. We first verified the most suitable desiccation conditions that lead to induction of the anhydrobiotic state usingHeterorhabditis bacteriophora HP88. After direct exposure of infective juveniles (IJs) to 97% and 93% r.h. for 96 h, the survival rate was > 70%. By contrast, exposing HP88 IJs to 88% and 85% r.h. resulted in poor survival (< 10%) or complete mortality. Following exposure to 97% and 93% r.h. for 24, 48, 72 or 96 h, survival ranged from 68% to 79% with no significant differences between the exposure periods. Stepwise reduction of r.h. conditions (97% > 93% > 88% > 85% r.h.) at a 24-h or 72-h interval resulted in enhanced survival (30% survival) of IJs at the final r.h. level compared with IJs which were either directly exposed to 85% r.h. (0% survival) or were preconditioned at the higher r.h. levels prior to exposure to 85% r.h. (15% survival).H. bacteriophora HP88 IJs were able to survive for at least 18 days after preconditioning. At 97% r.h. nematode viability remained stable at 70–85% and at 93% r.h. survival ranged between 37% and 60%. The data indicate that survival is influenced by rate of water removal from the nematode’s body and a minimal relative humidity level (>93%). Substantial differences in survival ability were observed among IJs of 12 new heterorhabditid populations, isolated from different climatic regions in Israel, which were preconditioned at 97% r.h. for 72 h following by an additional 72 h at 93% r.h. Maximum survival was recorded with HIS-19 (64%), moderate (40–55%) survival was observed with seven isolates, includingH. bacteriophora HP88, and five isolates displayed poor (<25%) desiccation tolerance.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Barrett, J. (1991) Anhydrobiotic nematodes.Agric. Zaol. Rev. 4:161–176.
Campbell, L.R. and Gaugler, R. (1991) Role of the sheath in desiccation tolerance of two entomopathogenic nematodes.Nematologica 37:324–332.
Crowe, J., Hoekstra, F.A. and Crowe, L.M. (1992) Anhydrobiosis.Annu. Rev. Physiol. 54:579–599.
Crowe, J. H. and Madin, K. A. C. (1975) Anhydrobiosis in nematodes: evaporative water loss and survival.J. Exp. Zool. 193:323–334.
Gaugler, R. (1993) Ecological genetics of entomopathogenic nematodes.in: Bedding, R., Akhurst, R. and Kaya, H. [Eds] Nematodes and the Biological Control of Insect Pests, CSIRO Publications, Canberra, Australia. pp. 89–95.
Glazer, I. (1992) Survival and efficacy ofSteinernema carpocapsae in an exposed environment.Biocontrol Sci. Technol. 2:101–107.
Glazer, I. (1996) Survival mechanisms of entomopathogenic nematodes.Biocontrol Sci. Technol. 6:373–378.
Glazer, I., Kozodoi, E., Salame, L. and Nestel, D. (1996) Spatial and temporal occurrence of a natural population ofHeterohabditis spp. (Nematoda: Rhabditida) in a semi-arid region.Biol. Control 6:130–136.
Glazer, I., Liran, N. and Steinberger, Y. (1991) A survey of entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida) in the Negev desert.Phytopamsitica 19:291–300.
Ishibashi, N., Tojo, S. and Hatate, H. (1987) Desiccation survival ofSteinernema feltiae str. DD-136 and possible desiccation protectants for foliage application of nematodes.in: Ishibashi, N. [Ed.] Recent Advances in Biological Control of Insect Pests by Entomogenous Nematodes in Japan. Ministry of Education, Osaka, Japan, pp. 139–143.
Kaya, H.K. (1990). Soil ecology.in: Gaugler, R. and Kaya, H.K. [Eds.] Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Biological Control, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA. pp. 93–115.
Kaya, H.K. and Gaugler, R. (1993) Entomopathogenic nematodes.Annu. Rev. Entomol 38:181–206.
Kaya, H.K. and Stock, S.P. (1997) Techniques in insect nematology.in: Lacey, L. [Ed.] Manual of Techniques in Insect Pathology. Academic Press Ltd., New York, NY. pp. 303–305.
Kung, S.P., Gaugler, R. and Kaya, H.K. (1991) Effects of soil temperature, moisture and relative humidity on entomopathogenic nematode persistence.J. Invert. Pathol. 57:242–249.
Menti, H., Wright, D.J. and Perry, R.N. (1997) Desiccation survival of populations of the entomopathogenic nematodesSteinernema feltiae andHeterorhabditis megidis from Greece and the UK.J. Helminthol. 71:41- 46.
O’Leary, S.A. and Burnell, A.M. (1997) The isolation of a mutant ofHeterorhabditis megidis (strain UK211) with increased desiccation tolerance.Fund. Appl. Nematol. 20:197–205.
O’Leary, S.A., Stack, CM., Chubb, M.A. and Burnell, A.M. (1998) The effect of day of emergence from the insect cadaver on the behavior and environmental tolerances of infective juveniles of the entomopathogenic nematodeHeterorhabditis megidis (strain UK211).J. Parasitol. 84:665–672.
Patel, M.N., Perry, R.N. and Wright, D.J. (1997) Desiccation survival and water contents of entomopathogenic nematodes,Steinernema spp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae).Int. J. Parasitol. 27:61–70.
SAS Insititute (1990) User’s Guide, Version 6. 12. SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA.
Selvan, S., Grewal, P.S., Leustek, T. and Gaugler, R. (1996) Heat shock enhances thermotolerance of infective juvenile insect-parasitic nematodesHeterorhabditis bacteriophora (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae).Experientia 52:727–730.
Simons, W.R. and Poinar, G.O. Jr. (1973) The ability ofNeoaplectana carpocapsae (Steinernematidae: Nematoda) to survive extended periods of desiccation.J. Invert. Pathol. 22:228.
Solomon, A., Paperna, I. and Glazer, I. (1999) Desiccation survival of the entomopathogenic nematodeSteinernema feltiae: Induction of anhydrobiosis.Nematology 1:61–68.
Strong, D.R., Kaya, H.K., Whipple, A.V., Child, A.L., Kraig, S., Bondonno, M., Dyer, K. and Maron, J.L. (1996) Entomopathogenic nematodes — natural enemies of root-feeding caterpillars on bush lupine.Oecologia 108:167–173.
Surrey, M.R. and Wharton, D.A. (1995) Desiccation survival of the infective larvae of the insect parasitic nematode,Heterorhabditis zealandica Poinar.Int. J. Parasitol. 25:749–752.
Winston, P.W. and Bates, D.H. (1960) Saturated solutions for the control of humidity in biological research.Ecology 41:232–237.
Womersley, C. (1987) A reevaluation of strategies employed by nematode anhydrobiotes in relation to their natural environment.in: Veech, J.A. and Dickson, D.W. [Eds.] Vistas on Nematology. Society of Nematologists, Hyattsville, MD, USA. pp. 165–173.
Womersley, C. (1990) Dehydration survival and anhydrobiotic potential.in: Gaugler, R. and Kaya, H.K. [Eds] Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Biological Control. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA,. pp. 117- 137.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan, Israel, No. 502-99, 1999 series.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liu, Q.Z., Glazer, I. Desiccation survival of entomopathogenic nematodes of the genusHeterorhabditis . Phytoparasitica 28, 331–340 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02981828
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02981828