陇东黄土高原石油开采对土壤线虫群落的影响

为研究陇东黄土高原石油开采对土壤线虫影响的强度与范围,选择长庆油田不同开采年限(1、10a和20a)油井共6口,按照距井基不同距离(3、6、10、20m和50m)采集土壤样品90个,共鉴定出土壤线虫22科43属;其中,食细菌线虫26属、食真菌线虫2属、植物寄生线虫9属、杂食/捕食线虫6属,优势类群为小杆属Rhabditis和孔咽属Aporcelaimus。土壤线虫生活史策略以c-p 2类群占优势,不同距离采样点,土壤线虫c-p 2和c-p 5差异极显著(P0.01)。随着距井基距离增加(3、6、10、20m和50m)线虫总数显著增加;其中,植食类、捕食杂食类和食真菌类线虫数量增加显著,且线虫群落多样性指数(H')显著增加(P0.05)。但不同距离之间优势度指数(λ),均匀度指数(J)和瓦斯乐斯卡指数(WI)差异不显著。不同开采年限油井,以10a土壤线虫群落多样性指数(H')、成熟度指数(MI)和瓦斯乐斯卡指数(WI)最低,而1a油井和20a油井较高,且与10a油井差异显著(P0.05)。油井作业改变周围土壤性质,导致土壤含水率降低、总石油烃(TPH)含量增高,但土壤线虫分布与土壤TPH无明显相关。研究结果表明,油田开采影响土壤线虫的组成与群落结构,但影响范围一般局限在作业区范围,指数H'和MI能较好的指示油田开采对线虫群落的影响。     

大庆油田石油开采对土壤线虫群落的影响

选择大庆油田环境一致的6口油井,研究石油开采干扰对土壤线虫的影响。共鉴定出土壤线虫18科15属。食细菌线虫最多,共15属占总数的49.2%,其次为植物寄生线虫共9属,占30.6%,食真菌线虫4属,占17.6%,杂食/捕食线虫2属,占2.6%。其中优势类群为丝尾垫刃属Filenchus和头叶属Cephalobus,占总数的42.5%。常见类群包括13个属,占总数的51.7%。稀有类群15个属占总数的6.34%。土壤的线虫生活史策略以c-p 2所占比例最大,其次是c-p3和c-p 1类群,受油井开采作业等影响,线虫通过大量繁殖来应对环境的干扰与压力。不同油井线虫总数差异不显著,但所有油井线虫总数比对照明显减少(p<0.001)。不同油井线虫群落结构差异不大,各油井线虫富集指数和结构指数表明所有油井线虫受干扰程度较高,土壤食物网趋于退化。随着采样距离增加,线虫总量差异不显著,但线虫群落的物种数量增加,优势度指数和多样性指数逐渐增加。结果表明油井开采对土壤线虫群落有一定的影响,开采距离对线虫群落结构影响较大。     

人工林不同营造模式对土壤线虫群落的影响

为了研究南亚热带人工林不同营造模式对土壤线虫群落的影响,于2013年7月在中国林业科学院热带林业实验中心林场分别选取针叶林(马尾松林、杉木林)、阔叶林(米老排、红椎林)及混交林(马尾松-红椎、马尾松-大叶栎),并对6种营造模式人工林的土壤线虫及土壤理化性质进行了调查。共鉴定线虫16853条,平均密度为1873条·100 g-1干土,隶属于2纲8目32科53属,其中基齿属、微咽属和金线属为优势属:PCA分析结果表明,杉木林与米老排林、马尾松-红椎混交林与红椎林的线虫群落结构相似性较高。线虫群落密度以马尾松-大叶栎混交林最大,红椎林和马尾松-红椎混交林较低,Shannon指数和均匀度指数均以马尾松林和米老排林较高,以马尾松-大叶栎混交林最低:成熟指数MI、PPI、PPI/MI指数和丰富度指数在不同经营模式间均无显著差异,而杂食-捕食性线虫、食细菌性线虫和植物寄生性线虫密度和WI指数差异显著。相关分析表明,土壤磷含量与植物寄生、食细菌、食真菌线虫显著相关,而土壤钾含量仅与杂食-捕食性线虫显著正相关。结果表明,6种经营模式对线虫组成和营养结构有明显影响,土壤磷和钾含量是影响线虫群落营养结构的主要因子。     

青藏高原不同牧草人工草地对土壤线虫群落的影响

为缓解草蓄矛盾,青藏高原人工草地得到快速发展。土壤线虫对环境变化敏感,是草地生态系统的重要组成部分。然而,不同牧草人工草地对土壤线虫群落的影响尚不明确。2016年7月,对多年生禾本科(垂穗披碱草Elymus nutans Griseb.、老芒麦Elymus sibiricus L.、早熟禾Poa annua L.和羊茅Festuca ovina L.)、一年生禾本科燕麦Avena sativa L.和多年生豆科紫花苜蓿Medicago sativa L.等6种单播牧草人工草地(建植期4年)和天然草地(对照)的土壤线虫群落进行了调查。结果表明：(1)土壤线虫隶属于2纲8目32科58属,平均密度为1754个/100 g干土;紫花苜蓿样地的线虫密度最低,为949个/100 g干土;燕麦样地最高,为3267个/100 g干土;(2)与天然草地相比,燕麦样地的线虫群落总密度、多样性以及植食性和杂食-捕食性线虫密度显著增加,而其他人工草地的线虫群落密度、多样性以及植食性、食真菌和食细菌线虫密度均无显著变化;(3)土壤线虫总密度以及各营养类群密度在不同人工草地间差异显著,且均在燕麦样地最高;(4)建...     

刈割活动对松嫩草原碱化羊草草地土壤线虫群落的影响

应用类群数、个体密度、多样性指数和功能类群指数等多个群落参数, 研究刈割活动对松嫩草原碱化羊草草地土壤线虫群落特征的影响。本研究共捕获土壤线虫8,335条, 分别隶属于线虫动物门2纲7目23科40属。结果表明, 与围栏封育样地相比, 刈割活动样地中线虫个体密度和类群数显著减少, 群落多样性指数(H′)、均匀度指数(J)和丰富度指数(SR)虽低于围栏封育样地, 但两类处理间差异不显著, 表明刈割活动尽管明显降低土壤线虫群落个体密度和类群数, 但对土壤线虫群落多样性的影响有限; 样地间PPI／MI值差异明显, 表明刈割活动在一定程度上确实改变了土壤线虫功能类群组成, 其中受影响的主要是非植物寄生线虫。     

林分密度对云顶山柏木人工林林下物种多样性和土壤理化性质的影响

以成都云顶山柏木(Cupressus funebris)人工林为对象,采用典型样地法研究不同林分密度(1100、950、800、650、500株/hm~2)对林下物种多样性和土壤理化性质及林下物种多样性与土壤理化性质相关性的影响。结果表明:共发现维管植物168种,隶属75科140属。随林分密度的降低,灌木层多样性指数呈先增后减的单峰变化,在密度650株/hm~2出现峰值,草本层多样性指数呈先增后减再增再减的双峰变化,在密度950株/hm~2和650株/hm~2出现峰值。同时发现光照为影响林下植物多样性的重要因素。林分密度对土壤全氮、全钾、速效钾、有机质影响显著,有机质、全氮、全钾、速效钾随林分密度降低呈先增后减的变化趋势。钾、氮、有机质与林下植被物种多样性关系最密切。结论:林分密度650株/hm~2为云顶山柏木人工林最适密度,该密度能较好的提高林下物种多样性和土壤肥力。     

宁南山区不同植被恢复方式下土壤线虫群落特征:形态学鉴定与高通量测序法比较

线虫是土壤食物网的重要组分, 也是土壤健康与生态系统恢复的重要指示生物, 因此准确测定线虫群落特征是发挥其生态指示作用的基础。传统线虫学研究多采用形态学鉴定方法, 但高通量测序技术近年来也逐渐受到重视。然而, 关于这两种方法的对比研究目前仍比较缺乏。本研究同时采用形态学鉴定和高通量测序法, 在黄土高原宁夏南部山区, 对不同植被恢复方式下(农田、自然恢复草地、柠条(Caragana korshinskii)人工林地和苜蓿人工草地)土壤线虫的数量、群落格局和生态指数进行了测定和比较。结果表明: (1)高通量测序仅能提供线虫类群的相对多度, 而形态学鉴定法能够测定土壤线虫的绝对多度, 后者测定结果表明3种植被恢复样地, 特别是自然恢复草地和柠条人工林地, 较农田具有更高的土壤线虫多度; (2)高通量测序法检获的线虫类群数(3纲4目26科42属)高于形态学鉴定法的测定结果(2纲3目18科27属), 但两种方法仅检获15个共有线虫属, 前者检测到的植物寄生线虫属数(22属)较后者(7属)显著增加, 而食细菌线虫和杂食-捕食线虫则相反; (3)在两种方法下, 相比农田, 3种植被恢复样地尤其是自然恢复草地和柠条人工林地, 其食微线虫的相对多度均显著下降, 而植物寄生线虫和杂食-捕食线虫的相对多度大幅上升, 这也导致线虫成熟度指数(MI)和植物寄生线虫指数(PPI)的提高及瓦斯乐卡指数(WI)的显著下降; (4)相比形态学鉴定法, 高通量测序法能检测到更丰富多样的植物寄生线虫, 在该方法下土壤线虫群落的组成、结构和生态指数在植被恢复样地与农田之间的差异也更为显著。综上所述, 采用形态学鉴定和高通量测序法测定的不同植被恢复方式下的线虫群落特征具有显著差异。     

藏北高寒草甸植物群落对土壤线虫群落功能结构的影响

2011年5-11月,对西藏北部高寒草甸3种典型植物群落下0-30cm范围内不同深度土层的土壤线虫群落进行调查,采用浅盆法分离线虫,土壤性质指标,如pH、含水量、电导率分别采用电位法、烘干法、电导率仪法进行测定,应用营养类群组成、c-p类群结构及营养结构特征指数,以及营养类群、c-p类群与土壤性质之间的关系等特征值分析高寒环境下土壤线虫群落的功能结构特征,以了解高寒环境下植被对土壤线虫群落功能结构的影响.调查共分离得到33038条土壤线虫,隶属于2纲6目51科93属;线虫个体密度平均为847条/100g干土;表聚性明显.研究结果表明,高寒草甸不同植物群落的土壤线虫群落营养类群组成及分布特征均存在一定差异,植食性线虫和食细菌性线虫是调查区域的主要营养类群,不同植物群落间植食性线虫和杂食/捕食性线虫的相对多度差异明显.c-p类群组成结构特征结果表明:3种植物群落的土壤线虫cp2类群均为优势类群,生活策略以r-对策为主;高山嵩草植物群落土壤中的线虫食物资源在3种植物群落中最丰富;藏北嵩草群落土壤线虫数量低的可能原因是线虫食物资源的减少限制了cp1、cp2类群的增殖.PPI值表明:委陵菜群落受扰动的影响程度大于其余两种植被类型,而MI、PPI/MI值及cp5类群数量的结果则表明:委陵菜群落的稳定性较高,受到的干扰在3种植物群落中最少.F/B及NCR值均说明了3种植物群落的土壤有机质分解均主要依靠细菌分解途径.相关性分析结果表明:杂食/捕食性线虫在枯草期明显受到土壤含水量的影响;食真菌性线虫与土壤pH之间的关系密切,在盛长期则明显受到土壤电导率的影响;食细菌性线虫仅在返青期与pH有相关性.不同植物群落下土壤线虫群落功能结构特征的分异显示出线虫指示环境因子影响土壤生态系统的潜力.     

松嫩草原中度退化草地不同植被恢复方式下土壤线虫的群落特征

2005年5月～10月对松嫩草原中度退化草地不同植被恢复方式样地进行土壤线虫调查,淘洗-过筛-蔗糖离心法提取土壤线虫,应用类群属数、个体密度、多样性指数和功能类群指数等多个群落参数,研究中度退化草地不同植被恢复方式间土壤线虫群落特征的差异.研究共捕获线虫13 713条,分别隶属于线虫动物门2纲7目24科40属,个体密度平均113条/100g干土.研究结果表明,不同植被恢复方式间土壤线虫群落特征存在一定差异,围栏封育和种植苜蓿均能明显改善中度退化草地土壤线虫群落环境,但围栏封育较种植苜蓿更能显著提高土壤线虫的个体密度和群落多样性.土壤线虫个体密度垂直分布,围栏封育样地线虫表聚性最明显,种植苜蓿样地表聚性次之,过度放牧样地表聚性最差,其夏季和秋季土壤线虫向土壤下层移动明显.此外,研究结果还表明,功能类群指数能够指示中度退化草地植被恢复方式间的差异,其中∑MI指数和PPI指数对于不同植被恢复方式下土壤线虫群落变化反映最敏感,根据功能类群指数统计,与围栏封育相比,种植苜蓿和过度放牧显著改变了土壤线虫群落中r-和k-选择植物寄生线虫的比例.对于松嫩草原中度退化草地,选择围栏封育方式可能更利于草地土壤线虫群落的恢复与重建.     

氮磷输入对过度放牧退化草原土壤线虫群落的影响

线虫是陆地生态系统中数量最多的一类无脊椎后生动物,在土壤碎屑食物网中占据多个营养级,并在能量流动和养分循环中发挥重要的生态功能.土壤线虫的群落结构和多样性水平可以反映生态系统功能的变化.多年来,过度放牧等不合理的开发利用导致我国大面积的草原处在不同程度的退化之中,外源性养分输入是维持其养分平衡进而恢复其生态和生产功能的重要措施.本研究以内蒙古锡林郭勒退化草原为对象,就氮磷输入对土壤线虫丰度和群落结构的单独效应和交互效应进行了研究.本研究获得线虫38属,其中垫咽属、滑刃属、索努斯属和盾垫属是该退化草原线虫群落优势属.氮输入降低了土壤线虫总丰度、捕食杂食线虫丰度以及植物寄生线虫丰度,而磷输入提高了土壤线虫总丰度、食真菌线虫丰度、捕食杂食类线虫丰度以及植物寄生线虫丰度,氮输入抑制了磷输入对线虫总丰度、捕食杂食线虫和植物寄生线虫丰度的促进作用.氮磷输入对线虫多样性无影响,可能与不同养分输入下稳定的植物群落多样性有关.氮输入显著提升了退化草原线虫成熟度指数,降低了植物寄生线虫成熟度指数(PPI),并且能缓解磷输入对PPI和瓦斯乐斯卡指数的负面作用,表明氮输入提高退化草地土壤健康程度,促进线虫群落和食物网的稳定性.上述研究结果有助于从土壤生物学角度理解氮磷输入对退化草地恢复的影响机理.     

川西亚高山/高山森林土壤线虫多样性

为了解青藏高原东缘亚高山/高山森林土壤线虫多样性,于2015年7月以该地区岷江冷杉原始林、混交林和次生林为研究对象,采用淘洗-过筛-蔗糖离心的方法分离土壤线虫,研究了3个海拔森林土壤线虫群落的组成与结构特征.结果表明: 共捕获线虫37950条,隶属于20科27属,平均为4217 条·100 g^-1干土,原始林以丝尾垫刃属为优势属,混交林和次生林以丝尾垫刃属和拟盘旋属为优势属,且优势属个体数量受林型的影响显著.原始林和次生林的优势营养类群为食真菌线虫,混交林则为食细菌线虫.土壤线虫c-p (colonizer-persister)类群c-p 1、c-p 2、 c-p 3和c-p 4数量分别占总数的6.1%、51.1%、30.0%和12.7%.3个海拔森林土壤线虫的自由生活线虫成熟度指数(MI)、总成熟度指数(∑MI)和植物寄生线虫成熟度指数(PPI)随海拔增加而逐渐降低.土壤线虫通路指数(NCR)在混交林高于0.5,在原始林和次生林低于0.5.林型显著影响了土壤线虫成熟度和NCR指数,但林型、土层及二者的交互作用对多样性指数影响不显著.川西亚高山/高山不同森林土壤线虫的组成、营养结构和能流通道存在明显差异,为深入理解土壤线虫在该区森林土壤生态过程中的作用提供了参考.     

Temporary Changes in Populations of Soil Organisms after Field Application of Entomopathogenic Nematodes

To assess the effect of an inundative release of entomopathogenic nematodes on soil organisms, population densities of soil-dwelling organisms were monitored before and after an application of an aqueous suspension of Heterorhabditis megidis to field plots in mown grassland (Exp. I) at a level of 0.38 million/m² and to plots (Exp. II) situated in a forested area, a grass sports field and an orchard at a level of 1.5 million/m². At the forested site, heat-killed H. megidis (1.5 million/m²) also were applied to two plots to compare the impact on soil organisms of a large introduction of living and dead nematodes. Post-treatment, temporary changes in natural population densities of several nematode genera and other organisms were detected in H. megidis-treated plots in both experiments. Temporary changes in the nematode trophic structure occurred in the percentages of nematode omnivores, herbivores and predators in both experiments. Evidence from all sites suggests that the changes were temporary and that the presence of decaying H. megidis following treatment contributed to nutrient enrichment of the soil and to direct and indirect effects on the nematode community.     

Selection responses and quantitative-genetic analysis of preadult performance on two host plants in the bean weevil, Acanthoscelides obtectus

The infectivity and biocontrol potential of entomopathogenic nematodes against two common urban tree leaf beetles (Altica quercetorum and Agelastica alni) pupating in the soil were examined under laboratory and semi‐field conditions. In the laboratory experiments, pre‐pupae and pupae of both insect species were shown to be highly susceptible to nematode infection when challenged in soil pre‐treated with the parasites’ infective juveniles. In general, Heterorhabditis megidis was more effective than Steinernema feltiae. However, significant differences were observed between individual isolates within the latter species. Nematodes developed and reproduced in cadavers of both insect species. A semi‐field experiment studying the biocontrol potential of selected nematode strains, conducted under the canopy of urban trees, confirmed the preliminary laboratory findings and revealed that H. megidis could eliminate most of the insects pupating in the soil, when applied at a relatively low dose of 10⁵ IJs m^?2. The potential of entomopathogenic nematodes as environmentally safe, effective, and economically viable agents for the biological control of tree leaf beetles in urban green areas is discussed.     

Sensitivity of Nematode Life-History Groups to Ions and Osmotic Tensions of Nitrogenous Solutions

Guild designation of nematodes of similar trophic function and life-history strategy provides a basis for using nematode faunal analyses in an integrative assessment of soil food web condition. Omnivorous and predaceous nematodes, categorized at the upper end of a colonizer-persister (c-p) continuum of nematode functional guilds are generally not abundant in cropped soil. These nematodes are more sensitive to heavy metal concentrations than those in other c-p groups, but whether sensitivity to agrochemicals contributes to the observed low abundance of high c-p groups in cropped soils is less well understood. An exposure assay in solution was used to compare the sensitivity of nematodes representing various guilds obtained from field soils and from laboratory culture to several nitrogen sources. Nematodes in c-p groups 4 and 5 were more sensitive to nitrogen solutions than nematodes representing lower c-p groups. There were both osmotic and specific ion effects—the latter most evident in exposure of nematodes to NaNO₂ and (NH₄)₂SO₄. The RC₅₀ (concentration resulting in nematode recovery of one half of that of distilled water) for (NH₄)₂SO₄ was < 0.052 M-N for c-p groups 4 and 5 compared to much greater values (0.34 to 0.81 M-N) for c-p groups 1 to 3. In non-ionic polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions, osmotic tensions of 0.40 to 0.43 MPa reduced the recovery of exposed nematodes by half (RT₅₀; water potential of solution resulting in nematode recovery of one half of that of distilled water) for c-p groups 4 and 5 compared to > 1.93 MPa for c-p groups 1 to 3. RT₅₀ values for urea solutions, also non-ionic, were greater than for PEG. Caenorhabditis elegans N2 (c-p 1) and Meloidogyne javanica (c-p 3) reared on solid medium and in hydroponic culture, respectively, were slightly more sensitive to specific ion and osmotic effects than nematodes of similar c-p groups obtained from soil. The greater sensitivity of c-p 4 and 5 nematodes to nitrogen solutions suggests that fertilizers may contribute to the low abundance of these nematodes in annual cropping systems. This study supports the use of nematode faunal analyses as indicators of chemical stress in soil.     

The nematode fauna of a temperate Australian mangrove mudflat; its population density,diversity and distribution

The nematode fauna of an estuarine mangrove Avicennia marina mudflat in Southeastern Australia has been intensively studied. About 85% of the nematodes occur in the top cm of soft mud, but 5–7 species inhabit the deeper anoxic mud down to 10 cm, both at low and high tide. One square metre was intensively sampled from four zones with different nematode faunas. At the low tide zone 58% of the nematodes were epistrate feeders, including many diatom-feeders, but in the mangrove zone selective microbial feeders made up over 60% of the population, while between high water neap and high water spring, above the mangrove zone, omnivore/predators and plant root feeding nematodes increased in relative importance. Random replicate cores reliably sampled species occurrence, but gave a high variance in density estimates. Replicate aliquots from homogenised mud gave lower density variance. Nematode densities (maximum 5 × 10⁶ m^-2) were not as high as have been reported from non-mangrove estuaries in other countries, but were within the range found in mangroves elsewhere in Australia. Margalef Species Richness values ranged from 1.7 to 3.89, which is similar to values found in other mangroves mudflats in Australia. Nematode biomass ranged from 888 mg dry weight m² (383 mg C m^-2) at the low tide zone to 19 mg dry weight m^-2 (8 mg C m^-2) at the upper tide level.     

The entomogenous nematode Neoaplectana bibionis as a biological control agent of Agrotis segetum in lettuce

Biological control of the soil-inhabitating larvae (cutworms) of Agrotis segetum Schiff. using the entomogenous nematode Neoaplectana bibionis Bovien was investigated under field conditions. Cutworms were introduced to plots planted with lettuce, Lactuca sativa L. After planting and infection with cutworms the plots were treated with either N. bibionis, the insecticide endosulfan or water. The trials were sited on locations with loamy and sandy soil. Adequate control of cutworms was obtained using 2.5×10⁵ nematodes/m² on sandy soil and 1×10⁶ nematodes/m² on loamy soil. Effects of these treatments with nematodes were equal to the effect of endosulfan.

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Neoaplectana bibionis ein entomophager nematode zur biologischen bekämpfung von Agrotis segetum an salat

Zusammenfassung Unter Freilandbedingungen wurde die biologische Bekämpfung von Erdraupen (Agrotis segetum Schiff., Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) mit dem entomophagen Nematoden Neoaplectana bibionis Bovien geprüft. Mit Salat bepflanzte Parzellen wurden mit Erdraupen besetzt. Anschliessend wurde auf die Parzellen N. bibionis, das Insektizid Endosulfan oder Wasser ausgebracht. Die Versuche wurden in Gebieten mit lehmigen und sandigen Böden durchgeführt. Für eine ausreichende Bekämpfung der Erdraupen waren auf dem sandigen Boden 2.5×10⁵ Nematoden/m² und auf dem lehmigen Boden 1×10⁶ Nematoden/m² erforderlich. Die Wirkung dieser Behandlungen entsprach der mit Endosulfan.

     

Roots,soil water and crop yield: tree crop interactions in a semi-arid agroforestry system in Kenya

Variations in soil water, crop yield and fine roots of 3–4 year-old Grevillea robusta Cunn. and Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. growing in association with maize (Zea mays L.) were examined in semiarid Kenya during the long rains of 1996 and 1997. Even although tree roots penetrated more deeply than maize roots, maximum root length densities for both tree species and maize occurred in the top 200 mm of the soil profile where soil moisture was frequently recharged by rains. Populations of roots in plots containing trees were dominated by tree roots at the beginning of the growing season but because tree roots died and maize root length increased during the cropping season, amounts of tree and maize roots were similar at the end of the season. Thus, there was evidence of temporal separation of root activity between species, but there was no spatial separation of the rooting zones of the trees and crops within that part of the soil profile occupied by crop roots. Tree root length density declined with increasing distances from rows of trees and with depth in the soil profile. Although Grevillea trees were largest, plots containing G. sepium trees always contained more tree roots than plots containing G. robusta trees and Gliricidia was more competitive with maize than Grevillea. Overall, Gliricidia reduced crop yield by about 50% and Grevillea by about 40% relative to crop yield in control plots lacking trees and reductions of crop yield were greatest close to trees. There was less soil moisture in plots containing trees than in control plots. Such difference between control plots and plots containing trees were maximal at the end of the dry season and there was always less soil moisture close to trees than elsewhere in the plots. Plots containing Gliricidia trees contained less soil water than plots containing Grevillea trees.     

Control of the flat-headed root borer <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capnodis tenebrionis</Emphasis> (Linné) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) with the entomopathogenic nematode <Emphasis Type="Italic">Steinernema carpocapsae</Emphasis> (Weiser) (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) in a chitosan formulation in apricot orchards

Entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae were applied in a chitosan formulation (Biorend R^®) to control the flat-headed rootborer Capnodis tenebrionis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in 5 field trials in the province of Valencia, Spain. Application was performed during spring and summer into the soil around apricot trees at densities of 1 and 1.5 million infective dauer juveniles per tree through drip irrigation, injection or by a drench. For evaluation of the control effect the roots of 106 trees were excavated, the cortex removed and living and dead insects were sampled. Dead larvae were dissected and checked for nematode infestation. Control of C. tenebrionis larvae was between 75% and 90%. No influence of the application method, nematode density or time of application on the control effect was recorded. Recovery of the infested trees was observed already in the season following nematode application. Due to the two year life cycle of the insect with egg laying from May to August, applications during spring and autumn are recommended.