Storage and formulation of the entomopathogenicnematodes Heterorhabditis indica and H. bacteriophora

Successful control of insect pests through theapplication of entomopathogenic nematode dauerjuveniles of H. bacteriophora and H.indica can only be achieved when the nematodematerial reaches the end user in good condition.Storage and formulation techniques must provideoptimum conditions to guarantee a maximum survival andinfectivity of the nematodes. Nematode survival wastested at temperatures ranging between 5–25 °C.A maximum survival of H. indica was achieved at15 °C and the highest mortality at 5 °C.H. bacteriophora survived best at 7.5 °Cand least at 25 °C. An increase of the saltconcentration had positive effects on dauer juvenilesurvival in aqueous suspensions. Low pH between 6 and4 reduced the bacterial growth and prolonged survivalof stored dauer juveniles. Of the organic acidsascorbic, benzoic, citric and sorbic acid, onlyascorbic acid had a positive effect on H. indicasurvival. Extracts of the dried spice plants cinnamon,cloves, rosemary and oregano were tested. Enhancementof H. indica survival was recorded for cinnamonand cloves. Survival and infectivity of nematodesstored in attapulgite and bentonite clays and spongewere recorded over several weeks at different storagetemperatures. Infectivity was not influenced by thedifferent formulation materials. When stored insponge at 25 °C nematodes survived less than 1week and the formulation in clay could only prolongthis period for another week. At 5 °C thesurvival of H. bacteriophora in sponge wassuperior to that in clay, whereas H. indicasurvived less well in sponge than in clay at15 °C. Storage in aerated water at 5 °Cfor H. bacteriophora and at 15 °C for H. indica resulted in the lowest mortality. Forstorage at controlled conditions (temperature, pH andosmolarity), aerated water is superior to all othermethods tested and the addition of preservatives willincrease survival.