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Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi as biological control agents of woolly apple aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) under South African conditions
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Stokwe, Nomakholwa Faith |
| Copyright Year | 2016 |
| Abstract | The woolly apple aphid (WAA), Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) is an important pest of apples, (Malus domestica Borkh.). Severe infestations by WAA can lead to colonies near spurs that can deposit honeydew on fruit, which serve as a substrate for sooty mould. If not controlled, it can lead to destruction of developing buds in the leaf axils and a reduction in tree vigour or formation of galls. Increasing interest in environmentally sustainable farming has increased the demand for environmentally friendly pest control methods. Therefore the use of naturally occurring biocontrol agents and more environmental friendly methods are needed. The study aims to determine the potential of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) to control WAA. EPNs and EPF are naturally occurring and environmentally friendly microbials that have the potential to be developed into bio-pesticides. Research on the use of EPNs and EPF as biocontrol agents against E. lanigerum showed that they have potential to be used to control WAA. This is the first report on the use of EPNs and EPF to control WAA in South Africa. These findings are significant, especially to those interested in integrated pest management (IPM). The first objective of this study was to evaluate the virulence of endemic EPN species against WAA by conducting laboratory bioassays and to determine the effect of imidacloprid on the infectivity of EPNs. A total of seven entomopathogenic nematode isolates were evaluated for their potential as biological control agents for WAA in the laboratory, using a 24-well bioassay protocol screening method. From these, the two most virulent nematode isolates were selected. In all cases studied the degree of infection associated with mortality was less than 50% and the other tested nematode isolates were less successful. Although penetration, recovery of the non-feeding Infective Juveniles (IJ) to the feeding stage and development into the adult stage was observed in some cases, the nematodes failed to complete their life cycle inside the WAA. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://scholar.sun.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10019.1/98438/stokwe_entomopathogenic_2016.pdf?sequence=1 |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
