AGRE-0002 Development of Improved Strains of Insectparasitic Nematodes for Control on Insect Pests in Agriculture and Horticulture

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Agriculture : Biotechnology : ECLAIR Cluster V - Biological Pest Control : Integrated Crop Protection & Biological Control

Heterorhabditis spp: Effect of temperature on efficiency

SUMMARY

A number of projects funded under the ECLAIR programme, although not directly producing a non-food product from agricultural raw material, are of relevance to crops in general since they aim to develop new methods of pest and disease control, which could reduce cost of raw material production, as well as offering environmental advantages. This Item covers AGRE 0002 aimed to develop nematodes for the control of insect pests.

INTRODUCTION

Certain nematodes, which contain symbiotic bacteria, are effective parasites of insect pests. A number of commercial products based on nematodes are available for control of insect pests in Europe but their markets are restricted to horticultural applications due to the limited range of environmental conditions in which nematodes are effective. Most commercial products contain nematodes of the genus Steinernema which are easier to produce than the alternative genus Heterorhabditis. However, the latter has been found to be a much more effective control agent for existing insect populations, but is much less persistent than Steinernema in the absence of insect hosts.

OBJECTIVES

The overall aim of the project was to develop novel strains of Heterorhabditis, and their symbiotic bacterium, Xenorhabdus luminescens, with improved activity at low temperatures, resistance to drought conditions and persistence in the absence of insect hosts. To achieve this, biotechnological methods were used to generate novel strains of insect parasitic nematodes (IPNs) which were improved over the wild types. Technology for mass production of these was then developed in conjunction with an evaluation of their effectiveness.

ACTIVITIES

These included an investigation of the mechanism of cold activity in Heterorhabditis strains; isolation of new nematode strains from European soils; selective breeding of nematodes and bacteria; crossing of nematode strains by means of artificial fertilisation; phylogenetic studies on freeliving and insect parasitic nematodes in order to find suitable parent types for artificial fertilisation; mutagenesis of both nematodes and bacteria; construction of novel nematode/bacteria combinations; liquid fermentation of nematodes; investigation of the mechanisms of cold activity and phase variation in the bacterium Xenorhabdus luminescens.

COMMERCIALISATION

Commercial exploitation of results by Agricultural Genetics Co Ltd (AGC) has already taken place with the full launch in 1991 of the product NEMASYS H, which contains the Heterorhabditis isolate UK211. The product is being sold in horticultural markets for control of black vine weevil in the UK, the Netherlands and Denmark. It is hoped to extend the range of EU Member States in which the product is marketed in due course. Should any other wild type isolates or derivatives arising from the project have properties which, in the opinion of AGC, are significantly better than those of UK211, these strains will be commercialised in appropriate markets.

PARTICIPANTS

St Patrick's College (Maynooth, Ireland)
Agrarische Hogeschool Friesland (Leeuwarden, The Netherlands).