title: Effect of Storage Temperature and Duration on Survival and Infectivity of Steinernema innovationi (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae).
abstract: Entomopathogenic nematode species differ in their optimum storage temperature; therefore, we conducted a study on the survival and infectivity of the recently described Steinernema innovationi from South Africa at five storage temperatures (5°C, 10°C, 15°C, 20°C, and 25°C) over 84 d using 20,000 infective juveniles (IJ) in 25 ml aqueous suspension containing 0.1% formalin. Our results showed that survival was highest and most stable at 15°C, ranging from 84% to 88% after 84 d. Infectivity of IJ against Galleria mellonella larvae was >90% for all temperatures except for 5°C at which survival decreased to 10% after 84 d. In addition, we stored 2.5 million IJ on a sponge formulation in 15 ml of 0.1% formalin solution for 84 d at the optimum 15°C followed by 2 wk storage at 25°C. Storage of the IJ on a sponge formulation for 14 d at 25°C post 15°C storage for 84 d did not have a detrimental effect on IJ survival (87%) or infectivity to G. mellonella (95%).
authors.affiliation: ARC-Small Grain Institute, P/Bag X29, Bethlehem, 9700, South Africa.
authors.forename: Tshimangadzo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ramakuwela
authors.affiliation: ARC-Small Grain Institute, P/Bag X29, Bethlehem, 9700, South Africa.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hatting
authors.affiliation: School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Laing
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Adnan Menderes University, 09010 Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hazir
authors.affiliation: ARC-Central Office, 1134 Park Street, Hatfield, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
authors.forename: Nicolene
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thiebaut
keywords: entomopathogenic nematode; infective juvenile; infectivity; optimum temperature; sponge formulation; survival