Indian Journal of Nematology

SCOPUS
  • Year: 2005
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue: 2

Effects of temperature and relative humidity on the emergence of infective juveniles of Heterorhabditis indica from Meghalaya, India

  • Author:
  • Lalramliana 1, Arun K. Yadav1, A.N. Shylesha1,2
  • Total Page Count: 3
  • DOI:
  • Page Number: 157 to 159

1Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong - 793 022.

2Division of Entomology, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, ICAR Reasearch Complex, Shillong - 793 103.

Abstract

The present study reports the effects of temperature and relative humidity (RH) on the emergence and production of infective juveniles (IJs) of Heterorhabditis indica, an entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) isolated from forest soil of Meghalaya, India. Larvae of Galleria mellonella were infected by 100 IJs/larva of H. indica at 25°C and 100% RH. The infected dead larvae of G. mellonella were exposed to varying degree of temperature and emergence of IJs was observed at regular time intervals. The IJs could emerge only at 15, 20, 25 and 30°C. The earliest emergence (8 days) of IJs occurred at 25°C. At 85, 96 and 100% RH, the emergence of IJs was observed between 8 to 9 days. At 75% RH, a delay (17 days) in the emergence of IJs was noticed. At 53% RH the cadavers were found severely desiccated and failed to release any IJ. Total production of IJs after 20 days post inoculation was recorded in both the experiments.

Keywords

Entomopathogenic nematodes, Heterorhabditis indica, temperature, relative humidity, Meghalaya, India