title: Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes against larvae of Tuta absoluta in the laboratory.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have indicated the control potential of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) against Tuta absoluta. Here, the potential of Steinernema feltiae, S. carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora is studied when applied against larvae of T. absoluta inside leaf mines in tomato leaf discs by means of an automated spray boom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The studied EPN species were effective against all four larval instars of T. absoluta but caused higher mortality in the later instars (e.g. fourth instar: 77.1-97.4% mortality) than in the first instars (36.8-60.0% mortality). Overall, S. feltiae and S. carpocapsae yielded better results than H. bacteriophora. Steinernema carpocapsae and H. bacteriophora performed better at 25 °C (causing 55.3 and 97.4% mortality respectively) than at 18 °C (causing 12.5 and 34.2% mortality respectively), whereas S. feltiae caused 100% mortality at both temperatures. Under optimal spraying conditions and with the use of Addit and Silwet L-77 adjuvants, a reduced dosage of 6.8 infective juveniles (IJs) cm(-2) yielded equally good control as a recommended dosage of 27.3 IJs cm(-2) .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under laboratory conditions, S. feltiae and S. carpocapsae showed good potential against the larvae of T. absoluta inside tomato leaf mines. Results need to be confirmed in greenhouse experiments. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium.|Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Veerle M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bert Keg
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.affiliation: Research Station for Vegetable Production, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium.
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berckmoes
authors.affiliation: Tomato Research, Research Centre Hoogstraten, Hoogstraten, Belgium.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moerkens
authors.affiliation: Research Station for Vegetable Production, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lieve
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wittemans
authors.affiliation: Research Station for Vegetable Production, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium.
authors.forename: Raf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Vis
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nuyttens
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hans F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Casteels
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tirry
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Clercq
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000254:growth & development; D009036:Moths / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development; D017168:Rhabditida / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Heterorhabditis bacteriophora; Steinernema carpocapsae; Steinernema feltiae; foliar application; tomato leaf miner