A comparative analysis of entomoparasitic nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema carpocapsae

Rinu Kooliyottil, Devang Upadhyay, Floyd Inman III, Sivanadane Mandjiny, Len Holmes

Sartorius Stedim Biotechnology Laboratory, Biotechnology Research and Training Center, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Pembroke, USA.
Sartorius Stedim Biotechnology Laboratory, Biotechnology Research and Training Center, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Pembroke, USA;.

DOI: 10.4236/ojas.2013.34049                

Abstract

Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema carpocapsae are microscopic entomoparasitic nematodes (EPNs) that are attractive, organic alternatives for controlling a wide range of crop insect pests. EPNs evolved with parasitic adaptations that enable them to “feast” upon insect hosts. The infective juvenile, a non-feeding, developmentally arrested nematode stage, is destined to seek out insect hosts and initiates parasitism. After an insect host is located, EPNs enter the insect body through natural openings or by cuticle penetration. Upon access to the insect hemolymph, bacterial symbionts (Photorhabdus luminescens for H. bacteriophora and Xenorhabdus nematophila for S. carpocapsae) are regurgitated from the nematode gut and rapidly proliferate. During population growth, bacterial symbionts secrete numerous toxins and degradative enzymes that exterminate and bioconvert the host insect. During development and reproduction, EPNs obtain their nutrition by feeding upon both the bioconverted host and proliferated symbiont. Throughout the EPN life cycle, similar characteristics are seen. In general, EPNs are analogous to each other by the fact that their life cycle consists of five stages of development. Furthermore, reproduction is much more complex and varies between genera and species. In other words, infective juveniles of S. carpocapsae are destined to become males and females, whereas H. bacteriophora develop into hermaphrodites that produce subsequent generations of males and females. Other differences include insect host range, population growth rates, specificity of bacterial phase variants, etc. This review attempts to compare EPNs, their bacterial counterparts and symbiotic relationships for further enhancement of mass producing EPNs in liquid media.

Keywords

Entomoparasitic Nematodes (EPNs); Heterorhabditis Bacteriophora; Steinernema Carpocapsae; Photorhabdus Luminescens; Xenorhabdus Nematophila; Symbiosis; Mass Production

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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