First record of Heterorhabditis indica (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) from Morocco and its virulence against Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann 1824) (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Abstract Background Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) represent a guild of soil-inhabiting nematodes that rapidly infect and kill insects that live in, on or near the ground surface. They are considered an attractive and emerging alternative to chemical insecticides, particularly against soil-borne...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41938-025-00848-1 |
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| Summary: | Abstract Background Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) represent a guild of soil-inhabiting nematodes that rapidly infect and kill insects that live in, on or near the ground surface. They are considered an attractive and emerging alternative to chemical insecticides, particularly against soil-borne pests like Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae). The virulence of different EPN strains from the same species can vary according to their geographical origin. For this reason, exploring EPNs and testing their pathogenicity in different ecological regions are of paramount importance to discover more effective EPNs. This practice is also necessary to reinforce knowledge on diversity and distribution of EPNs worldwide. In this context, this study aimed to identify local EPNs species in Morocco, assess their morphological, morphometric and biological traits, and evaluate their pathogenicity against C. capitata. Results In this study, a species belonging to Heterorhabditis genus, Heterorhabditis indica, was characterized for the first time in Morocco based on morphological, morphometric, molecular and biological characterization. H. indica was detected in 26% of the samples, particularly in cultivated soils with light-textured, pH above 7 and moisture levels between 7 and 16%. Laboratory tests demonstrated that five isolates of H.indica induced larval mortality rates ranging from 56.81 to 88.63% and from 12.5 to 83.33% in filter paper assays and soil microsome assays, respectively. Conclusion The results showed that the six isolates were identified as H. indica. This is the first report of H. indica in Morocco. In addition, the study also showed the potential of H. indica as an effective biological control agent against C. capitata supporting its use in integrated pest management strategies. These results underline the importance of H. indica in sustainable pest management, and the need for further research into its application in agricultural practices. |
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| ISSN: | 2536-9342 |