1Department of Entomology, Agricultural College, Baptala-522 101, Andhra Pradesh, India.
2Department of Statistics and Mathematics, Agricultural College, Baptala-522 101, Andhra Pradesh, India.
3APNL Biotechnology Project on Nematode Pests, ARS, Kadiri, Anantapuram, India.
*E-mail: krishnayya_ento@rediffmail.com
†Part of M.Sc. (Ag.) thesis submitted by the senior author to Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad.
Out of 250 soil samples collected from all the 57 mandals of the Guntur district only three (1.2%) were positive to EPNs after confirming the nematode pathogenicity against G. mellonella larvae. Among these, Steinernema was identified from the soil sample of Chebrolu, which was sandy with a pH of 6.1 and organic matter content of 0.56%, whereas, the soil samples from Ponnuru and Savalyapuram yielded Heterorhabditis sp, which were black soils with pH of 7.2, 7.8 and organic matter content of 0.61 and 0.62%, respectively. All the three soil samples were collected from agricultural fields and above the mean sea level. From the morphometrical data the EPN isolates were expected to be S. karii and H. indica.
Soil samples, EPN, Steinernematidae, Heterorhabditidae
