Abstract
The behavioural response of infective juveniles (IJs) of Heterorhabditis megidis (strain NLH-E87.3) to cues from roots of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.), thuja (Thuja occidentalis L.) and to larvae of the black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus, was studied. Choice assays were conducted in an Y-tube olfactometer filled with moist sand. Infective juveniles were activated by the presence of intact roots of both strawberry and thuja plants. Some nematodes aggregated in the compartments with roots but most moved away from the roots to the opposite side. Given a choice, IJs showed a preference for strawberry roots above O. sulcatus larvae. No difference in preference was observed between thuja roots and O. sulcatus larvae. The combination of strawberry roots with vine weevil larvae was preferred above roots alone. In the assays with thuja roots and larvae versus thuja roots alone, however, IJs were stimulated to move but showed preference for the opposite compartment away from the arms with roots and larvae. Nematodes responded differently to mechanically damaged roots as opposed to roots damaged by vine weevil larvae. In assays with damaged thuja roots, IJs were most attracted by the roots damaged by larvae, whereas in the strawberry assays IJs showed a clear preference for the mechanically damaged roots. When challenged with a choice between strawberry and thuja roots, IJs moved preferentially to strawberry than to thuja roots. A preference for the combination of strawberry roots plus larvae over the thuja roots plus larvae was also observed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bargmann, C.I. and I. Mori, 1997. Chemotaxis and thermotaxis. In: D.L. Ridle, T. Blumenthal, B.J. Meyer and J.R. Priess (eds), C. elegans II. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor. pp. 717–737.
Bird, A.F. and J. Bird, 1986. Observations on the use of insect parasitic nematodes as a means of biological control of root-knot nematodes. J. Parasitol. 16: 511–516.
Boff, M.I.C., F.C. Zoon and P.H. Smits, Orientation of Heterorhabditis megidis to insect hosts and plant roots in a Y-tube olfactometer. Entomol. Exp. Appl. (in press).
Boff, M.I.C., G.L. Wiegers and P.H. Smits. Influence of insect larvae and plant roots on the host-finding behavior of Heterorhabditis megidis. Biocontrol Sci. Techn. (submitted).
Castro, C.E., N.O. Belser, H.E. McKinney and I.J. Thomason, 1989. Quantitative bioassay for chemotaxis with plant parasitic nematodes. Attractant and repellent fractions for Meloidogyne incognita from cucumber roots. J. Chem. Ecol. 15: 1297–1309.
Croll, N.A., 1970. The Behaviour of Nematodes — Their Activity, Senses and Responses. Edward Arnold Publishers, London, UK.
Dicke, M., 1999. Evolution of induced indirect defence of plants. In: R. Tollrian and C.D. Harvell (eds), The Ecology and Evolution of Inducible Defences. Princeton University Press, New Jersey. pp. 62–88.
Diez, J.A. and D.B. Dusenbery, 1989. Repellent of root-knot nematodes from exudate of host roots. J. Chem. Ecol. 15: 2445–2455.
Downes, M.J. and C.T. Griffin, 1996. Dispersal behaviour and transmission strategies of the entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis and Steinernema. Biocontrol Sci. Techn. 6: 347–356.
Eidt, D.C. and G.S. Thurston, 1995. Physical deterrents to infection by entomopathogenic nematodes in wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) and other soil insect. Can. Entomol. 127: 423–429.
Evenhuis, H.H., 1978. Bionomics and control of the black vine weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus. Med. Fac. Landbouww. Univ. Gent. 43: 607–611.
Genstat 5 Committee, 1997. Genstat 5 Release 4.1 Reference Manual Supplement. Oxford.
Gaugler, R., 1988. Ecological considerations in the biological control of soil-inhabiting insect pests with entomopathogenic nematodes. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 24: 351–360.
Gaugler, R., L. LeBeck, B. Nakagaki and M.G. Boush, 1980. Orientation of the entomogenous nematode Neoaplectana carpocapsae, to carbon dioxide. Environ. Entomol. 9: 649–652.
Gaugler, R., Y. Wang and J.F. Campbell, 1994. Aggressive and evasive behaviors in Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) larvae: defenses against entomopathogenic nematodes attack. J. Invertebr. Pathol. 64: 193–199.
Grewal, P.S., R. Gaugler and S. Selvan, 1993. Host recognition by entomopathogenic nematodes: behavioural responses to contact with host faeces. J. Chem. Ecol. 19: 1219–1231.
Grewal, P.S., E.E. Lewis, R. Gaugler and J.F. Campbell, 1994. Host finding behaviour as a predictor of foraging strategy in entomopathogenic nematodes. Parasitology 108: 207–215.
Hui, E. and J.M. Webster, 2000. Influence of insect larvae and seedling roots on the host-finding ability of Steinernema feltiae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae). J. Invertebr. Pathol. 75: 152–162.
Kanagy, J.M.N. and H.K. Kaya, 1996. The possible role of marigold roots and ?-terthienyl in mediating host-finding by steinernematid nematodes. Nematologica 42: 220–231.
Kaya, H.K. and R. Gaugler, 1993. Entomopathogenic Nematodes. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 38: 181–206.
Klein Beekman, M.Z., G.L. Wiegers and P.H. Smits, 1994. Biological control of cockchafer larvae (Melolontha melolontha) with the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema glaseri. Med. Fac. Landbouww. Univ. Gent. 59: 411–419.
Klingler, J., 1965. On the orientation of plant nematodes and of some other soil animals. Nematologica 11: 4–18.
Lei, Z., T.A. Rutherford and J.M. Webster, 1992. Heterorhabditis behaviour in the presence of the cabbage maggot, Delia radicum, and its host plants. J. Nematol. 24: 9–15.
Lewis, E.E. and R. Gaugler, 1994. Entomopathogenic nematode (Rhabdita: Steinernematidae) sex ratio related to foraging strategy. J. Invertebr. Pathol. 64: 238–242.
Lewis, E.E., R. Gaugler and R. Harrison, 1993. Responses of cruiser and ambusher entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernematidae) to host volatiles cues. Can. J. Zool. 71: 765–769.
McCall, P.J., T.C.J. Turlings, W.J. Lewis and J.H. Tumlinson, 1993. Role of plant volatiles in host location by the specialist parasitoid Microplitis croceipes Cresson (Braconidae: Hymenoptera). J. Ins. Behav. 6: 625–639.
Perry, R.N. and J. Aumann, 1998. Behaviour and sensory responses. In: R.N. Perry and D.J. Wright (eds), The Physiology and Biochemistry of Free-living and Plant-parasitic Nematodes. CAB International, UK. pp. 75–102.
Peters, A. and R.-U. Ehlers, 1997. Encapsulation of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae in Tipula oleracea. J. Invertebr. Pathol. 69: 218–222.
Rhodes, M.J. and L.S.C. Wooltorton, 1978. The biosynthesis of phenolic compounds in wounded plant storage tissues. In: G. Kahl (ed), Biochemistry of Wounded Plant Tissues. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin. pp. 243–286.
Robinson, A.F., 1995. Optimal release rates for attracting Meloidogyne incognita, Rotylenchus reniformis and other nematodes to carbon dioxide in sand. J. Nematol. 27: 42–50.
Schmidt, J. and J.N. All, 1979. Attraction of Neoaplectana carpocapsae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) to common excretory products of insects. Environ. Entomol. 8: 55–61.
Smith, F.F., 1932. Biology and control of the black vine weevil. USDA Tech. Bull. 325. 45 pp.
Smits, P.H., J.T.M. Groenen and G. de Raay, 1991. Characterization of Heterorhabditis isolates using DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism. Revue Nematol. 14: 445–453.
Thurston, G.S., W.N. Yule and G.B. Dunphy, 1994. Explanation for the low susceptibility of Leptinotarsa decemlineata to Steinernema carpocapsae. Biol. Control 4: 53–58.
Uritani, I. and K. Õba, 1978. The tissue slice system as a model for studies of host-parasite relationships. In: G. Kahl (ed), Biochemistry of Wounded Plant Tissues.Walter de Gruyter, Berlin. pp. 287–346.
van Tol, R.W.H.M. and A.C. Schepman, 1999. Influence of host and plant roots on the migration of Heterorhabditis sp. (NWE) in peat soil. In: R.L. Gwynn, P.H. Smits, C. Griffin, R.-U. Ehlers, N. Boemare and J.-P. Masson (eds), COST 819 — Entomopathogenic Nematodes: Application and Persistence of Entomopathogenic Nematodes — Proceedings of a Workshop Held at Tody, Perugia, Italy, May 16–20, 1995, Directorate-General Science, Research and Development, European Communities, Belgium. pp. 117–121.
van Tol, R.W.H.M., A. T.C. van der Sommen, M.I.C. Boff, J. van Bezooijen, Sabelis, M.W. and P.H. Smits, Plants protect their roots by alerting the enemies of grubs (submitted, Ecology letters).
van Tol, R.W.H.M., J. van Bezooijen and T.A.C.M. Ketelaars, 1998. Searching behaviour of entomopathogenic nematodes: roots and soil temperature determine success of black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) control. IOBC/WPRS Bull. 21: 187–191.
van Tol, R.W.H.M., J.H. Visser and M.W. Sabelis, 2000. Responses of the black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) to weevil and host-plant odours. In: M.J. Sommeijer and F.J.A.J. Meeuwsen (eds), Proceedings of the Section Experimental and Applied Entomology – Netherlands Entomological Society (N.E.V). Amsterdam 11. pp. 109–114.
Wang, Y. and R. Gaugler, 1998. Host and penetration site location by entomopathogenic nematodes against japanese beetle larvae. J. Invertebr. Pathol. 72: 313–318.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Boff, M., van Tol, R. & Smits, P. Behavioural response of Heterorhabditis megidis towards plant roots and insect larvae. BioControl 47, 67–83 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014435627268
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014435627268