The behavior of Heterorhabditis zealandica Poinar strain T327 was investigated in the presence of the cabbage maggot, Delia radicum L., and plants that are susceptible to D. radicum infestation. Newly formed puparia and freeze-killed third instar larvae were attractive to infective nematodes. Newly harvested infective nematodes did not respond to the puparia, whereas 1-month-old and 2-month-old...

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are small worms whose ecological behaviour consists to invade, kill insects and feed on their cadavers thanks to a species-specific symbiotic bacterium belonging to any of the genera Xenorhabdus or Photorhabdus hosted in the gastro-intestinal tract of EPNs. The symbiont provides a number of biological functions that are essential for its EPN host including the ...

In a survey of entomopathogenic nematodes in Brazil, a nematode isolate of the genus Heterorhabditis was found. The nematode was collected from soil by the insect-baiting technique and maintained in the laboratory on last instar Galleria mellonella (L.) larvae. Morphological and molecular studies of the isolate showed that the nematode is a new species. Light and scanning electron microscopy, D...

Abstract Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) belonging to the genera, Steinernema and Heterorhabditis , occur naturally in soil along with plant-parasitic which are important root pests of many different crops. Here, we report effects four registered nematicidal compounds (fluopyram, fosthiazate, metam potassium, fenamiphos) that used for control PPNs on survival, virulence, penetration efficienc...

Geothermal soils in Central Italy are characterized by high temperatures (up to 60°C), low pH values, and sparse vegetation. The biodiversity of entomopathogenic soil fungi nematodes has never been assessed these areas. Soil samples (N = 12) separated from each other at least 100 meters were collected the areas Le Biancane Natural Park (Grosseto) Sasso Pisano (Pisa). Galleria bait method was us...

The plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, is a major pest of stone and pome fruit (e.g., apples, pears, peaches, cherries, etc.). Entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema spp. and Heterorhabditis spp.) may be used to control the larval stage of C. nenuphar following fruit drop. Indeed, certain entomopathogenic nematodes species have previously been shown to be highly effective in killing C. nen...

Our objective was to estimate the biocontrol potential of the recently discovered entomopathogenic nematode species Heterorhabditis georgiana (Kesha strain). Additionally, we conducted a phylogenetic characterization of the nematode’s symbiotic bacterium. In laboratory experiments, we compared H. georgiana to other entomopathogenic nematodes for virulence, environmental tolerance (to heat, desi...

An essential factor to the virulence of the genus Candida is the ability to produce enzymes and this may be crucial in the establishment of fungal infections. Aim: This study investigated in vitro enzymatic activities of Candida species and their virulence in an in vivo Galleria mellonella experimental model. Methods: Twenty-four clinical strains of Candida spp. isolated from the human oral cav...

Xenorhabdus spp. and Photorhabdus spp., entomopathogenic bacteria symbiotically associated with nematodes of the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae, respectively, were shown to produce different lipases when they were grown on suitable nutrient agar. Substrate specificity studies showed that Photorhabdus spp. exhibited a broad lipase activity, while most of the Xenorhabdus spp. sec...