Occurrence of entomopathogenic nematodes in Polish soils

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Entomopathogenic nematodes ( Steinernematidaeand Heterorhabditidae) were studied in Polish soils according to the: season, habitat and altitude. In total, 167 soil samples were taken from 111 localities in Poland along north-south transect. Entomopathogenic nematodes were isolated from 53 soil samples (31.7%). Nematodes species were identified genetically from 16 samples, and in all other 37 samples nematodes were determined to the genus level. Three species of the genus Steinernema ( Steinernema kraussei, S. feltiae, S. carpocapsae) and one of the genus Heterorhabditis( Heterorhabditis megidis) were recorded. Steinernema feltiaewas the most common species. There was not a significant association between the occurrence of nematodes and season or altitude. The type of habitat significantly (P<0.05) affected the occurrence of nematodes. Nematodes were most frequent in samples collected from coniferous forests (20 findings).