| Abstract [eng] |
Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) are unsegmented roundworms that parasitize insect pests. Understanding how infective juveniles (IJ) locate their prey - the insect host - can be used to enhance the effectiveness of EPN as a biocontrol agent. Chemoreception is one of the most important factors, that helping EPN navigate in chemically complex soil environments. Currently, not much is known about the chemical compounds involved in the prey-seeking behavior of EPN. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the chemical compound 1-nonene on the behavior of two EPN species (S. carpocapsae and S. kraussei). To achieve this goal, the following objectives were set: to examine the response of S. carpocapsae and S. kraussei to the 1-nonene solvent ethanol (control) and to study the reaction of S. carpocapsae and S. kraussei to different concentrations of 1-nonene. In two-choice bioassays, it was determined that undiluted ethanol was neither attractive nor repellent to S. carpocapsae, but was attractive to the S. kraussei species. However, ethanol diluted ten and 100 times had no significant effect on the behavior of these species. When the behavior of EPN species to different concentrations of 1-nonene was investigated, it was found that the highest 1-nonene concentrations were attractive to S. carpocapsae IJ, while they were repellent to S. krausseiIJ. Lower concentrations of 1-nonene were neither repellent nor attractive, and there was no statistically significant response from S. kraussei IJ or S. carpocapsae IJ compared to the controls. This study adds to the list of chemical compounds, that S. carpocapsae and S. kraussei IJ respond, 1-nonene. The fact that different EPN species have different behavioral characteristics in response to 1-nonene, can be considered when applying EPN in sustainable pest control. |
