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Evaluation of a genetically selected strain of Steinernema feltiae against the mushroom sciarid Lycoriella mali
Author(s) -
GREWAL P. S.,
TOMALAK M.,
KEIL C. B. O.,
GAUGLER RANDY
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1993.tb04939.x
Subject(s) - biology , diflubenzuron , mushroom , strain (injury) , infestation , horticulture , veterinary medicine , botany , toxicology , pesticide , agronomy , medicine , anatomy
SUMMARY The control potential of a strain (ScP) of Steinernema feltiae genetically selected against the mushroom sciarid Lycoriella solani, was evaluated for the management of L. mali. Trials were conducted at two commercial mushroom farms with high and low levels of fly infestation. The efficacy of the ScP strain was compared with the SN strain of S. feltiae and the chitin synthesis inhibitor, diflubenzuron. At low densities of L. mali, the two strains did not differ in efficacy and caused 85–94% reduction in fly populations. At high fly densities with a mixed infestation of the phorid fly, Megaselia halterata, the ScP stain caused 56–83% reduction in L. mali populations whereas the SN strain caused 51–73% reduction. Two doses of the improved strain (0.5 times 10 6 and 1.0 times 10 6 infective juveniles per m 2 cropping area) did not differ in efficacy from diflubenzuron which caused 80% reduction in L. mali populations. The lower dose (0.5 times 10 6 ) of the SN strain was less effective than diflubenzuron. The ScP strain had a major advantage over the SN strain in persistence in casing material. Nematodes had no significant effect on mushroom yields.