Occurrence and distribution of entomopathogenic nematodes in the Slovak Republic

Abstract

Infective-stage juveniles of entomopathogenic nematodes of the genera Steinernema and Heterorhabditis were recovered by direct extraction from 36% of a total of 111 soil samples collected in various biotopes from different regions of Slovakia. The rate of prevalence was highest in forest soil (58%). On the basis of morphological characters of the infective juveniles eight Steinernema and one Heterorhabditis species were distinguished. Steinernema affine, S. intermedium and S. feltiae were most prevalent (together 74% of all records). The other species of Steinernema encountered were S. kraussei, S. carpocapsae, S. bicornutum, a species of the S. glaseri group and an undescribed species earlier recorded from Germany. In 11 of the 40 soil samples positive for entomopathogenic nematodes mixtures of two to four species were present. Several species showed a distinct habitat preference, e.g., S. affine for arable soil and S. intermedium for woodland and river bank vegetation with trees. A preference for certain soil types was less apparent. Untersuchungen uber Vorkommen und Verbreitung entomopathogener Nematoden in der Slowakischen Republik - Insgesamt 111 Bodenproben, die in unterschiedlichen Biotopen aus verschiedenen Regionen der Slowakei entnommen worden waren, wurden auf entomopathogene Nematoden untersucht. Infektionsjuvenile der Gattungen Steinernema und Heterorhabditis waren uber eine direkte Extraktion der Nematoden aus dem Boden in 36% aller Proben nachweisbar. Der hochste Anteil "positiver" Proben fand sich bei Proben aus Waldern (58%). Anhand morphologischer Merkmale der Infektionsjuvenilen waren acht Steinernema Arten und eine Heterorhabditis-Art differenzierbar. Steinernema affine, S. intermedium und S. feltiae waren die haufigsten Arten (insgesamt 74% aller Nachweise). S. kraussei, S. carpocapsae, S. bicornutum, eine Steinernema-Art der S. glaseri-Gruppe und eine noch unbeschriebene Steinernema-Art (bereits aus Deutschland bekannt) und Heterorhabditis sp. wurden seltener gefunden. In 11 aller 40 "positiven" Proben kamen zwei bis vier Arten nebeneinander vor. Einige der Arten zeigten eine deutliche Bevorzugung bestimmter Biotoptypen, so S. affine von Acker- und Gartenboden und S. intermedium von Waldern und Ufervegetation mit Baumen. Eine Bevorzugung bestimmter Bodenarten war dagegen kaum erkennbar.

Diversity of entomopathogenic nematodes (Nematoda: Steinernematidae, Heterorhabditidae) from Arasbaran forests and rangelands in north-west Iran

“…in rangelands, but especially so in forests. These findings are in agreement with reports of other surveys (Stock et al, 1999(Stock et al, , 2008Sturhan & Lišková, 1999;Stock & Gress, 2005) where the greatest diversity of EPN was found in woodland and forest habitats.…”

Occurrence and geographical distribution of cyst nematodes in cereals and grassland in the Slovak Republic

“…Out of the cyst nematode species known as parasite of grasses, only H. avenae was found in natural grassland with a low frequency of occurrence. The species of grass cyst nematodes known from the territory of Slovakia (Sturhan & Lišková, 2004), such as H. bifenestra, H. hordecalis, H. mani and P. stonei detected in soil samples collected in the rhizosphere of grasses near rivers, wet grassland and grasses under nut orchards were not detected during our study. The species of the cyst nematodes of H. avenae group, determined as the parasites of grasses, were found by Krall et al (1999) in Estonia (H. mani, H. hordecalis, H. arenaria, H. ustinovi, H. avenae, H. filipjevi) and Punctodera punctata was recorded in Germany (Sturhan, 1982).…”

“…However, until 2004 the only species of cyst nematodes known as a parasite of cereals and grasses in the Slovak Republic. Sturhan and Lišková (2004) reported five other species of the genus Heterodera -H. avenae, H. hordecalis, H. mani, H. ustinovi, H. bifenestra and one species of the genus Punctodera -P. stonei know to parasitize Graminaceae out of a total of 16 cyst nematode species found throughout the country.…”

Communities of free living and plant parasitic nematodes in hop gardens in Slovakia

“…In spite of the substantial investigation of communities of free living and plant parasitic nematodes of various agroecosystems and natural ecosystems in Slovakia, no data from hop gardens are available -with the exception of the reports on the occurrence of H. humuli in Slovakia by Šály (1983), but with no closer reference to the habitat. Recently, Sturhan and Lišková (2004) observed H. humuli on a grassy slope at the edge of a forest with the occurrence of Urtica species, known as the host of this nematode species. The objective of the presented work was to determine the structure of nematode communities in specific agroecosystem of hop gardens in Slovakia, focusing on the occurrence of H. humuli.…”