Assessment of the entomopathogenic nematode bacteria against the termite, Microtermes mycophagus D. (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Abstract

AbstractThe capability of symbiotic bacteria of entomopathogenic nematodes against the termite, Microtermes mycophagus D. (Isoptera: Termitidae), was assessed. Different fractions of Pakistani isolates of entomopathogenic bacteria viz., Xenorhabdus indica strain (Pak.S.B.50), X. indica strain (Pak.S.B.56), X. stockiae strain (Pak.S.B. 65), and X. steinernematis strain (C.B.10) were assessed against M. mycophagus by direct contact method (spraying method) and sand assay in laboratory conditions. Mortality response of cell-free filtrates after 24 h at 20 °C for X. indica (Pak.S.B.50), T2 = X. indica (Pak.S.B.56), T3 = X. stockiae (Pak.S.B. 65), and T4 = X. steinernematis (C.B.10) ranged (88.3–100%) as 33 ± 9.34, 98.33 ± 6.22, 88.33 ± 7.22, and 100.00% ± 0.00, respectively. In the case of sand assay, the most effective treatment was T4, where (100%) mortality rate was recorded 24 h post application of B.S. (bacterial suspension) (4 × 104 CFU/ml) and CFF (cell-free filtrate) (100 μl/10 ml) at 20 and 25 °C.