Vol. 10, Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
Rahmath Jennifer Nisha SI, Seenivasan N, Sankaranarayanan C, Kalaiarasan P, Jeyarani S and Raja K

Abstract:
Entomopathogenic nematodes from families steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae are the important natural enemies of insects. In vivo and in vitro production technology is a key factor in the success of implementing EPNs as a biological control agent. In the present study,4 strains of Entomopathogenic nematodes belong to the genus steinernema (2), Heterorhabditis (2) were assessed against Corcyra cephalonica and also demonstrate in vivo and in vitro techniques that are commonly used for reproduction of nematodes. These EPN included Heterorhabditis indica, H. bacteriophora, Steinernema glaseri, S. siamkayai. Virulence of all these strains was tested against insect pests using bioassay method. After in vivo and in vitro production (10 media) of nematode inoculum, different parameters for optimizing infective juveniles recovery, yield were investigated. Among all these media, H. bacteriophora and H. indica, produced more no of infective juveniles in NA medium-I. For S. siamkayai and S. glaseri, reproductivity is more in Modified dog biscuit medium. As comparing these parameters, S. glaseri and H. indica were highly virulent than H. bacteriophora and S. siamkayai. In comparative study between in vivo and in vitro production, the best one was in vivo method and reproductivity is also high compared to in vitro method.