Efficacy, Penetration and In Vivo Production of Entomopathogenic Nematodes against Legume Pod Borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The infectivity of six native entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), Steinernema carpocapsae, S. masoodi, S. seemae, S. mushtaqi, Steinernema sp. (IIPR 04) and Oscheius amsactae tested against legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata. The rate of penetration and in vivo mass production potential of these nematodes on the tested insect larvae was also undertaken. Among the tested species of EPN, S. masoodi was found more pathogenic to M. vitrata as it brought about cent per cent mortality within 72 h post exposure, followed by S. seemae and S. carpocapsae, after 96h. S. mushtaqi, Steinernema sp. (IIPR 04) and O. amsactae brought about cent per cent mortality within 120 h. In case of mass production of infective juveniles of tested EPN species from this insect showed that, highest yield of O. amsactae, followed by S. carpocapsae. Whereas the lesser number juveniles of S. mushtaqi and Steinernema sp. (IIPR 04) produced from the body of the M. vitrata larva. Maximum number of S. seemae IJs penetrate into legume pod borer, followed by S. mushtaqi. The lowest rate of penetration was found in the O. amsactae and S. carpocapsae.