Identification and Biocontrol Potential of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Endosymbiotic Bacteria in Apple Orchards against the Codling Moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Abstract

The codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is one of the major pests in pome fruit production worldwide. Heavy treatment of the larvae of C. pomonella with insecticides triggered the development of resistance to many groups of insecticides. In addition, the increasing concern about the adverse effects of synthetic insecticides on human health and the environment has led to the development of sustainable and eco-friendly control practices for C. pomonella. The entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) (Steinernema and Heterorhabditis spp.) and their endosymbionts (Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus spp.) represent a newly emerging approach to controlling a wide range of insect pests. In the present study, field surveys were conducted in apple orchards to isolate and identify EPNs and their endosymbionts and evaluate their insecticidal efficacy on the larvae of C. pomonella. EPNs were isolated from 12 of 100 soil samples (12%). Seven samples were identified as Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev, 1934) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), whereas five samples were assigned to Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar, 1976) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae). The pathogenicity of the EPN species/isolates was screened on the last instar larvae of G. mellonella. The two most pathogenic isolates from each EPN species were tested against fifth instar larvae of C. pomonella under controlled conditions. The maximum mortality (100%) was achieved by all EPN species/isolates at a concentration of 100 IJs/larva 96 h after treatment. The endosymbionts of selected H. bacteriophora and S. feltiae species were identified as Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. kayaii and Xenorhabdus bovienii, respectively. The mortality rates ranged between 25 and 62% when the fifth larval instar larvae of C. pomonella were exposed to the treatment of cell-free supernatants of symbiotic bacteria. In essence, the present survey indicated that EPNs and their symbiotic bacteria have good potential for biological control of C. pomonella.

Transcription Factor AhR Regulates Glutathione S-Transferases Conferring Resistance to lambda-Cyhalothrin in Cydia pomonella

“…pomonella hides inside host plant fruits, making it difficult to be controlled . Although environment-friendly control methods have been sought in agroforestry management, chemical insecticide is still the most effective measure. , lambda -Cyhalothrin is one of the most commonly used chemical insecticides to control C. pomonella .…”

“…2 Although environment-friendly control methods have been sought in agroforestry management, chemical insecticide is still the most effective measure. 3,4 lambda-Cyhalothrin is one of the most commonly used chemical insecticides to control C. pomonella. 5 However, overuse of insecticide has led to the development of C. pomonella resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin.…”

Transcription factor AhR regulates glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) conferring resistance tolambda-cyhalothrin inCydia pomonella

“…Most of the duration of the larval stage of C. pomonella occurs inside the fruit, making it difficult to be controlled [2]. Although environment-friendly control methods have been sought in agroforestry management, chemical insecticide is still the most effective measure [3,4]. Lambda -cyhalothrin is regarded as one of the most commonly used chemical insecticides to control C. pomonella [5].…”

EfficientDet-4 Deep Neural Network-Based Remote Monitoring of Codling Moth Population for Early Damage Detection in Apple Orchard

“…There are numerous Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, including mating disruption [25][26][27][28], attract-and-kill [29], or sterile insect technique [30,31], and many other environmentally friendly strategies that can be implemented in the modern codling moth management [32,33]. Although all these techniques are available, growers mostly resort to chemical measures [18,34], which has led to the emergence of insecticide resistance, making codling moth control much more difficult [2,[34][35][36][37].…”