The Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Nematodes Plus an Adjuvant against Helicoverpa zea and Chrysodeixis includens in Aboveground Applications

• Published in: Journal of nematology 2024-03, Vol.56 (1), p.20240018-727
• Main Authors: Zhang, Minling, Spaulding, Nathan, Reddy, Gadi V.P., Shapiro-Ilan, David I
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adjuvant; chrysodeixis includens; entomopathogenic nematode; helicoverpa zea; Research Paper
• ISSN: 0022-300X; 2640-396X; 2640-396X
• DOI: 10.2478/jofnem-2024-0018

In the southern United States, corn earworm, (Boddie), and soybean looper, (Walker) are economically important crop pests. Although Bt crops initially provided effective control of target pests such as , many insect pests have developed resistance to these Bt crops. Alternative approaches are needed, including biological control agents such as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). However, the effectiveness of EPNs for aboveground applications can be limited due to issues such as desiccation and ultraviolet radiation. Effective adjuvants are needed to overcome these problems. Ten strains of EPNs were tested for virulence against eggs, first to fourth instars, fifth instars, and pupae of and in the laboratory. These 10 EPN strains were (HP88 and VS strains), (K22 strain), Hgkesha (Kesha strain), (All and Cxrd strains), (SN strain), (17c+e strain), and (355 and 7–12 strains). EPNs could infect eggs of or in the laboratory, but the infection was low. The mortality caused by 10 EPN strains in seven days was significantly higher for the first to fourth instars of compared to the control, as was the fifth instars of . Similarly, for the first to fourth and fifth instars of , the mortality was significantly higher compared to the controls, respectively. However, only (355) had significantly higher mortality than the control for the pupae of . For the pupae of , except for , , and (K22), the mortality of the other seven strains was significantly higher than the control. Subsequently, (All) and (7–12) were chosen for efficacy testing in the field with an adjuvant 0.066% Southern Ag Surfactant (SAg Surfactant). In field experiments, the SAg Surfactant treatment significantly increased the mortality and EPN infection for (All) on first instars of in corn plant whorls. On soybean plants, with the SAg Surfactant, (All) was more effective than (7–12) on fifth instars of . This study indicates that EPNs can control and , and SAg Surfactant can enhance EPN efficacy.