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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #415515
Research Project: Novel Approaches for Managing Key Pests of Peach and Pecan

Location: Fruit and Tree Nut Research

Title: Volatile organic compounds released from entomopathogenic nematode-infected insect cadavers for the biocontrol of meloidogyne incognita

Author
item LI, JINGJING - Nankai University
item WEI, XIANQIN - Nankai University
item PEI, ZIXUAN - Nankai University
item SUN, JIE - Nankai University
item XI, JIALE - Nankai University
item LI, XINGYUE - Sichuan Agricultural University
item Shapiro Ilan, David
item RUAN, WEIBIN - Nankai University

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/10/2024
Publication Date: 6/10/2024
Citation: Li, J., Wei, X., Pei, Z., Sun, J., Xi, J., Li, X., Shapiro Ilan, D.I., Ruan, W. 2024. Volatile organic compounds released from entomopathogenic nematode-infected insect cadavers for the biocontrol of meloidogyne incognita. Pest Management Science. 155. Article 104527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2020.104527.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2020.104527

Interpretive Summary: Nematodes are small round worms; some of them are beneficial whereas others are harmful. Root-knot nematodes are major pests of various crops such as pecan and peach. Novel methods to control these harmful nematodes are needed. In contrast to the harmful root-knot nematodes, entomopathogenic nematodes, also known as beneficial nematodes, are potent environmentally friendly bio-insecticides. Beneficial nematodes are used to control a wide variety of insect pests. These beneficial nematodes have also been documented to have potential in control root-knot nematodes (the good nematodes suppressing the bad nematodes). Insects that are infected with beneficial nematodes release certain volatile compounds. We investigated whether the volatile compounds released by nematode-infected insects may have potential to control root-knot nematodes. We discovered that the volatile compounds released by beneficial nematode infected insects reduced root-knot nematode populations in laboratory and greenhouse studies. These findings may offer a safe and novel avenue for controlling root-knot nematodes.

Technical Abstract: Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., are one of the most destructive polyphagous plant-parasitic nematodes. Entomopathogenic nematodes show promise in controlling root-knot nematodes. However, it remains unclear whether the volatile organic compounds emitted from entomopathogenic nematode-infected insect cadavers can control root-knot nematodes. We discovered that the volatiles released from Steinernema feltiae and S. carpocapsae infected cadavers had a significant lethal effect on second-stage juvenile root-knot nematodes. The volatiles released were analyzed using SPME-GC/MS. Dimethyl disulfide, tetradecane, pentadecane, and butylated hydroxytoluene, were selected for a validation experiment with pure compounds. The dimethyl disulfide compound had significant nematicidal activity and repelled root-knot nematodes. The compound also inhibited egg hatching and the invasion of tomato roots. In a pot experiment, the addition of S. feltiae infected cadavers caused a reduction in the number of root knots and eggs by 58% and 74.34%, respectively. These results suggested that the volatile organic compounds emitted by the entomopathogenic nematode-infected cadavers affected various developmental stages of M. incognita and thus have the potential to be used in controlling root-knot nematodes through multiple methods.