2023 journal article
Entomopathogenic Nematodes for Field Control of Onion Maggot (Delia antiqua) and Compatibility with Seed Treatments
INSECTS, 14(7).
author keywords: biological control; conventional management; soil pests; bulb yield
TL;DR:
It is demonstrated that applying entomopathogenic nematodes can significantly reduce the number of onion plants destroyed by onion maggots, leading to higher crop yields, and these nem atodes could be a useful tool for onion farmers, whether they practice conventional or organic farming.
(via Semantic Scholar)
open access via www.mdpi.com (publisher PDF)
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
2. Zero Hunger
(Web of Science)
Source: Web Of Science
Added: August 14, 2023
Onion maggot (Delia antiqua) is a prominent pest of allium crops in temperate zones worldwide. Management of this pest relies on prophylactic insecticide applications at planting that target the first generation. Because effective options are limited, growers are interested in novel tactics such as deployment of entomopathogenic nematodes. We surveyed muck soils where onions are typically grown to determine if entomopathogenic nematode species were present, and then evaluated the compatibility of entomopathogenic nematode species with the insecticides commonly used to manage D. antiqua. We also evaluated the efficacy of these entomopathogenic nematodes for reducing D. antiqua infestations in the field. No endemic entomopathogenic nematodes were detected in surveys of muck fields in New York. Compatibility assays indicated that, although insecticides such as spinosad and, to some extent, cyromazine did cause mortality of entomopathogenic nematodes, these insecticides did not affect infectivity of the entomopathogenic nematodes. Field trials indicated that applications of entomopathogenic nematodes can reduce the percentage of onion plants killed by D. antiqua from 6% to 30%. Entomopathogenic nematodes reduced D. antiqua damage and increased end of season yield over two field seasons. Applications of entomopathogenic nematodes may be a viable option for reducing D. antiqua populations in conventional and organic systems. Together with other management tactics, like insecticide seed treatments, applications of entomopathogenic nematodes can provide a yield boost and a commercially acceptable level of D. antiqua control.