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Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Symbiotic Bacteria pp 47–111Cite as

Laboratory Techniques for Entomopathogenic Nematodes

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Abstract

Entomopathogenic nematodes are beneficial biocontrol agents of insect pests. Before application, they need to be identified and characterized. Insect hosts like G. mellonella, T. molitor and S. litura are reared in laboratory conditions for various EPN studies. Isolation techniques of soil nematodes depend on nematode type. EPNs from infected cadavers are collected using White Trap Method, their pathogenicity is verified by Koch’s postulates, and are quantified using nematode counting devices. Nematodes are examined either live or heat killed for morphological studies. Nuclear rDNA has been a beneficial tool for providing markers associated in delimitation of EPN at diverse taxonomic levels. Environmental tolerance is studied for tolerance to heat, cold, pH, moisture, desiccation, and hypoxia, respectively. EPNs are mass produced either in vivo or in vitro for laboratory experiments or commercial development. The virulence and bioefficacy of EPNs is evaluated.

Keywords

  • Insect rearing
  • Sampling
  • Storage
  • ITS region
  • Phylogeny
  • RAPD
  • RFLP
  • Ecological characterization
  • Mass production

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India

    S. Sivaramakrishnan

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Mother Teresa Women’s University, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India

    M. Razia

Authors
  1. S. Sivaramakrishnan
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  2. M. Razia
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Sivaramakrishnan, S., Razia, M. (2021). Laboratory Techniques for Entomopathogenic Nematodes. In: Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Symbiotic Bacteria. Springer Protocols Handbooks. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1445-7_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1445-7_8

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