Journals Information
Universal Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 8(2), pp. 41 - 45
DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2020.080203
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Effectiveness of Entomopathogenic Nematodes against the African White Rice Stem Borer Maliarpha separatella Rag
Vincent Kega 1,*, Muo Kasina 2, Florence Olubayo 3, John Huria Nderitu 3
1 Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Industrial Crops Research Centre, Mwea, Kenya
2 Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, National Sericulture Research Centre, Kenya
3 Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Services, University of Nairobi, Kenya
ABSTRACT
The efficacy of three entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) species Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser, Steinernema karii Waturu, Hunt & Reid, Heterorhabdtids indica Poinar, Karunaka & David and two EPN isolates collected from Coastal Kenya (EX MOMBASA) and Rift valley (EX NAKURU) was evaluated against larvae of African white rice stem borer, Maliarpha separatella Rag. The experiment was carried out using no- choice modified filter paper bioassay at KARI-Mwea. Whatman filter paper was substituted with white cotton cloth discs. The activity of the biological agents under study was determined at 25℃ and 65% relative humidity, with concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 infective juveniles (IJs) per one M. separatella third instar larva. The larvae were confined in 60mm plastic petri dishes in darkness as the larvae spend their entire life inside the rice stems. The mortality rate was determined at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after application of the nematode suspension. Significant virulence was obtained with all the nematode species at 200 infective juveniles (IJs). There was low mortality at 50 and 100 concentration rates. All the EPNs significantly reduced M. separatella larvae after 48 hours in the following order H. indica> EX NAKURU> S. carpocapsae> EX MOMBASA >S. karii. The number of nematodes from the infected cadavers after 48 hours post infection was H. indica (553), EX –MSA (294), EX-NKU (242), S. karii (168) and S. carpocapsae (157). S. karii took the longest time (96 hours) to kill all the test insects. In conclusion, the study shows that EPNs are effective against M. separatella and could be used within an integrated pest management strategy for the pest. There is need to carry out further studies to determine effective dosages under field conditions.
KEYWORDS
Entomopathogenic Nematodes, Efficacy, African White Rice Stem Borer, Maliarpha separatella
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Vincent Kega , Muo Kasina , Florence Olubayo , John Huria Nderitu , "Effectiveness of Entomopathogenic Nematodes against the African White Rice Stem Borer Maliarpha separatella Rag," Universal Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 41 - 45, 2020. DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2020.080203.
(b). APA Format:
Vincent Kega , Muo Kasina , Florence Olubayo , John Huria Nderitu (2020). Effectiveness of Entomopathogenic Nematodes against the African White Rice Stem Borer Maliarpha separatella Rag. Universal Journal of Agricultural Research, 8(2), 41 - 45. DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2020.080203.