Vol. 12, Special Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
Sonia Soni, Jagadeesh Patil, Jayalaxmi Ganguli and RN Ganguli

Abstract:
Entomopathogenic nematodes belonging to the family Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae are potent biocontrol agents of insect pests particularly those inhabiting in soil or in concealed environment. Native isolates are more efficacious against insect pests than exotic ones because of their adaptation to local environment. Aiming to isolate local EPNs of Chhattisgarh, 200 soil samples were collected of which three samples were found to be positive for EPNs. An EPN isolated from Chitapur village of Bastar district belonging to family Steinernematidae was identified as Steinernema surkhetense after sequence analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA. The physiochemical properties of the soil sample from which S. surkhetense was isolated, when tested revealed clay loam soil texture, 6.97 pH, 0.16 dSm^-1 EC, 0.84% organic carbon and 1.45% organic matter content. This is the first record of S. surkhetense from Chhattisgarh state of India. Further exploration into diverse habitat of the state will likely to result in more previously unrecorded EPN species.