Natural Occurrence of Entomopathogenic Nematodes (EPNs) in Citrus Orchards in Lattakia Governorate, Syria


Abstract in English

This research was conducted in laboratory of Nematology in the Center of Scientific Agricultural Research in Lattakia, to detection of Entomopathogenic Nematodes (EPNs) in Citrus Orchards soils in Lattakia governorate. A total of 66 composite soil samples were collected from Citrus orchards during (2016- 2017). Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) were recovered from soil samples by the insect baiting technique, using seventh instar larvae of the Greater wax moth Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Infective juveniles (IJs) were collected from G. mellonella cadavers using the method of White (1927). EPN isolates were identified based on morphometric methods. Eight isolates were identified as Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar 1976 (Ord. Rhabditida: Fam. Heterorhabditidae) . Positive soil samples ratio was 12.12% of total samples, where EPNs isolates were extracted from regions (Al-Bassa, Al-Magreet, Al-Shamia, Gio, Al-Kharnoba, Al-Sorsokia, Fideo, Borj Al-Qasab)0 The soil textures of the EPNs positive samples were (sandy loam, silt loam, loamy sand, loamy clay sand, clay) with ( pH 6.34- :0.5) and (1.99- 4.82) g\100g organic content. The electrical conductivity of the nematode positive soils varied from 0.33 to 0.82 ds/m.

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