Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Is foliar application of entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida) an effective alternative to thiametoxam in controlling cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus L.) on winter wheat?

Author(s):

Žiga Laznik, Matej Vidrih, Filip Vučajnk, Stanislav Trdan *

Recieved Date: 2011-12-20, Accepted Date: 2012-05-02

Abstract:

The efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes (high conc. 150.000 IJ m^-2; low conc. 75.000 IJ m^-2) in controlling Oulema melanopus on winter wheat was tested in a field experiment. A Slovenian strain of Steinernema carpocapsae (C101) was used with the commercial product NemasysC and the insecticide thiametoxam (60 g ha^-1). The preceding observation helped determine when the larvae of cereal leaf beetle started to hatch from eggs. Nematodes and insecticide were all applied on the same day when larvae were present and most eggs (≥90%) had hatched. Yield results of our research showed that the Slovenian strain of S. carpocapsae (C101) and commercial strain are both effective biological agents in foliar control of the CLB in the open field. A group analysis demonstrated that in 2010 (P<0.0001) and 2011 ( P= 0.0359) the yield of wheat was affected by measures of pest control. In both years the highest yield was obtained in the thiametoxam treatment (2010: 7.3±0.1 t ha^-1; 2011: 8.1±0.4 t ha^-1) and lowest in the control (untreated) treatment (2010: 5.6±0.2 t ha^-1; 2011: 7.4±0.2 t ha^-1). In 2010 weaker efficacy among EPN treatment showed commercial strain NemasysC (low conc.: 6.0 ± 0.1 t ha^-1, high conc.: 6.1±0.2 t ha^-1), while Slovenian strain gained better results (low conc.: 6.6 ± 0.1 t ha^-1; high conc.: 6.8±0.2 t ha^-1). In 2011 among EPN treatments Slovenian strain (low conc.: 8.1±0.3 t ha^-1; high conc.: 8.1±0.2 t ha^-1) and commercial strain Nemasys C (high conc.: 8.2±0.1 t ha^-1) gained better yield results than commercial strain Nemasys C (low conc.: 7.4±0.2 t ha^-1). Concentration of the nematode suspension did not have any influence on the yield in both years (2010: P = 0.2315; 2011:P = 0.0937), which gives these biocontrol agents in integrated or organic agriculture better prospects from an economical point of usage, as the cost of plant protection is closely connected to the quantity of the applied EPNs.

Keywords:

Biological control, entomopathogenic nematodes, cereal leaf beetle, yield

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2012
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 716-719

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