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Non‐target effects of entomopathogenic nematodes on the soil nematode community
Author(s) -
Somasekhar Nethi,
Grewal Parwinder S.,
De Nardo Elizabeth A. B.,
Stinner Benjamin R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of applied ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.503
H-Index - 181
eISSN - 1365-2664
pISSN - 0021-8901
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2664.2002.00749.x
Subject(s) - heterorhabditis bacteriophora , biology , heterorhabditis , nematode , entomopathogenic nematode , biological pest control , species richness , agronomy , species diversity , abundance (ecology) , ecology
Summary1 There is growing awareness that biological control carries risks as well as benefits, but there are few data on below‐ground effects of inundative insect pathogens. We addressed this issue using entomopathogenic nematodes and the soil nematode community in a turfgrass ecosystem as a model. 2 Application of Heterorhabditis bacteriophorastrain GPS11,Heterorhabditis bacteriophorastrain HP88 andHeterorhabditis indica strain LN2 significantly reduced the abundance, species richness, diversity and maturity of the nematode community by reducing the number of genera and abundance of plant‐parasitic, but not free‐living, nematodes. 3 Our results are the first to indicate selective suppression of plant‐parasitic nematodes by entomopathogenic nematodes, H.bacteriophoraandH. indica , with no adverse effect on free‐living nematodes. 4 In contrast to the entomopathogenic nematode treatments, trichlorfon (a commonly used insecticide in turfgrass) reduced the number of genera, abundance and diversity of the nematode community by adversely affecting both plant‐parasitic and free‐living nematodes. 5 The reduction in abundance and diversity of plant‐parasitic nematodes without any adverse effect on free‐living nematodes that play a role in nutrient cycling, can be considered as a beneficial non‐target effect of entomopathogenic nematodes. The mechanisms causing such an effect need to be elucidated in future studies.