Diversity and distribution of entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) in Turkey

The diversity and distribution of entomopathogenic nematodes in thefamilies Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae were assessed throughout anextensive soil survey in Turkey during 1999 and 2000. Entomopathogenic nematodeswere recovered from six out of seven regions sampled, with 22 positive sites(2%) out of 1080 sites sampled. A single nematode isolate was recovered at eachof the positive sites, of which 15 were steinernematid isolates and seven wereheterorhabditid isolates representing a total of four species. Based onmorphometric and molecular data, the nematode species were identified asHeterorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernemafeltiae, S. affine, andSteinernema n. sp. The most common species was S.feltiae, which was isolated from 10 sites in six regions, followed byH. bacteriophora from seven sites in five regions,S. affine from four sites in two regions, andSteinernema n. sp. from one site. Heterorhabditisbacteriophora and S. feltiae have been found inmany parts of the world, whereas S. affine, so far, hasonly been recovered in Europe until our survey. Steinernemaaffine was isolated from the European (Marmara) as well as theAsiatic region (Middle Anatolia) of Turkey. A new undescribedSteinernema sp. was isolated from the most eastern region(East Anatolia) of Turkey. Soils of the positive sites were classified as sandy,sandy loam, or loam (68.2%) and sandy–clay–loam or clay loam (31.8%) and the pHranged from 5.6 to 7.9. The habitats from which the entomopathogenic nematodeswere isolated were broadly classified as disturbed (59.1%), which includedagricultural fields and poplar planted for lumber and wind breaks, andundisturbed (40.9%), which included pine forest, grassland, marsh and reed sites.Steinernema feltiae, S. affine, andH. bacteriophora were recovered from both disturbed andundisturbed habitats. The new Steinernema sp. was recoveredfrom grassland. Our survey showed that these nematodes occur widely throughoutTurkey, but at a frequency below that reported for other parts of the world.