| Management of plant-parasitic nematodes in turf has become increasingly difficult during the last decade due to the limited number of effective post-plant nematicides. The use of in-vitro produced Pasteuria sp. (IVP) as a biological control agent of Belonolaimus longicaudatus (sting nematode) offers an additional management tactic to the chemical and cultural controls currently available. Experiments utilizing IVP endospores were conducted to determine if endospore rate, size, origin, formulation, or placement in the soil profile affect the suppression of B. longicaudatus populations.;Growth room experiments revealed that high levels (280,000 endospores/cm 3 of soil) of IVP endospores suppressed B. longicaudatus populations by approximately 75%. Another experiment suggested that sporangium size of IVP endospores did not affect the level of nematode suppression. Furthermore, a bionematicide utilizing IVP endospores is likely to be effective against different populations of B. longicaudatus and the original geographical source of IVP endospores does not appear to affect efficacy. Similarly, B. longicaudatus levels at the time of application, does not appear to affect the ability of IVP endospores to suppress nematode populations. Granular and liquid formulations of IVP endospores suppressed nematode populations by 20% and 63%, respectively, compared to the nontreated control. Greenhouse experiments indicate that IVP endospore movement into the turf profile is not hindered by thatch and that large irrigation events can move endospores below the turfgrass root zone, possibly reducing effectiveness. In addition, placement of endospores within the root zone (0 to 10 cm soil depth) with one application of 0.6 cm of irrigation indicates that endospore applications can be achieved relatively easy. These trials have provided a great deal of information; however experiments conducted in a controlled environment do not always correspond to field observations and field tests should be conducted in the future to confirm these results. In the future, biopesticides using IVP may be an important component of integrated pest management for B. longicaudatus on turfgrasses. |
