In vitro Production of Native Isolates of Heterorhabditis indica and Steinernema siamkayai

Native strains of entomopathogenic nematodes viz., Heterorhabditis indica (TNAU-EPN-Hi3) isolated from Kodaikanal and Steinernema siamkayai (TNAU-EPN-St3) from Walayar (Coimbatore district) regions of Tamil Nadu were mass produced in vitro using ten various media containing materials of plant origin. Among the different media tested, maximum multiplication of H. indica (689 X 10³) was recorded in Wouts medium containing soy flour and corn oil followed by medium VI containing bengalgram flour and gingelly oil (607.4 x 10³). Maximum multiplication of S. siamkayai (501 X 10³) was observed in Wouts medium followed by medium V containing bengalgram flour and groundnut oil (388 x 10³).