In vivo production of entomopathogenic nematodes suppressed by asymptomatic bacterial contaminants

Summary Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) are excellent biological control agents possessing recycling ability as one of their major attributes. We report the presence of asymptomatic bacteria that can lead to disrupted or low progeny production in Heterorhabditis indica . In a one-to-one in vitro competitive bioassay with contaminants associated with H. indica cuticle, there was a significant suppression in the growth of Sphingomonas koreensis when stressed with the nematode symbiont Photorhabdus luminescens ; however, P. luminescens was suppressed when sandwiched between Ochrobactrum anthropi. Bacillus bombysepticus associated with laboratory-reared Galleria when stressed by P. luminescens was significantly suppressed, but not so in the reverse assay. Both O. anthropi and B. bombysepticus were found to be insecticidal to Galleria larvae when fed orally. Tripartite interactive studies on the growth and multiplication of H. indica - P. luminescens symbionts in Galleria larvae, predisposed to S. koreensis , revealed no significant difference initially in the hermaphrodite formation, but subsequently there was a significant decline in the formation of amphimictic females and the final production of infective juveniles. In in vitro studies, none of the contaminants supported the growth and development of axenic H. indica . Adequate precautions should be taken to maintain proper hygiene to eliminate such contaminants while culturing the Galleria and EPN for use in the biological control of insects.