Persistence of Heterorhabditis indica on chickpea foliage

Persistence of Heterorhabditis indica (RCR) on chickpea foliage was evaluated under field condition during Rabi, 2003. Infective juveniles (IJs) at a concentration of 600 IJs/ml alone and in combination with various antidessicants was sprayed on foliage during evening hours. Nematodes sprayed along with 0.1% glycerol recorded significantly maximum survival (81–25%) compared to other treatments after 2h of application. This was followed by nematode + Triton X-100 (0.1%) and nematode + paraffin liquid (0.1%) which recorded 62.6 and 50.6% survival, respectively. However, H. indica when sprayed along with oils viz., castor oil, palm oil and sunflower oil at 1% recorded poor survival (16.6 and 18.6%). However, after 4h of spray there was drastic reduction in survival in all the treatments and none of the nematodes survived after eight hours of spray in any of the treatments.