title: Influence of application method and pest population size on the field efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes.
abstract: Application method had an appreciable effect on the efficacy of Heterorhabditis sp. (isolate T390) in reducing the numbers of Otiorhynchus sulcatus infesting field-grown strawberries. Results were related to nematode placement. In Trial 1, the mean weevil mortality was 36% for trickle-irrigated Steinernema sp. (isolate NC513) at a dose of 100,000 nematodes per plant, whereas the same dose of Heterorhabditis sp. (isolate T390) resulted in mortality of 65% and 86% for trickle-irrigated and surface-sprayed nematodes, respectively. Mortality rate (y) was inversely related to initial weevil population size (x) by y = 4.96x(-0.957) and y = 4.71x(-0.558) for trickle-irrigated Steinernema sp. (isolate NC513) and Heterorhabditis sp. (isolate T390), respectively. In Trial 2, using 100,000 Heterorhabditis sp. (isolate T390) per plant, mean weevil mortalities were 61%, 63%, and 79% for single-injection, irrigation, and multiple-injection techniques, respectively.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Curran