In vitro mass production of entomopathogenic nematodes: selection of media, biphasic production, formulation and use of the industrial waste

• Grant number: 14/00651-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: November 03, 2014
• End date: November 02, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Luís Garrigós Leite
• Grantee: Luís Garrigós Leite
• Host Investigator: David Shapiro-Ilan
• Host Institution: Instituto Biológico (IB). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Agricultural Research Service, Byron (ARS), United States

Abstract

Over the years, problems related to attack by soil pests are becoming increasingly severe in various agricultural commodities. In the most developed countries, biological control of soil pests has been extensively studied, being a practice long adopted, especially the use of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in the genera Steinernema and Heterorhabditis (Nematoda: Rhabditida). The in vitro mass production of nematodes has been performed by a few companies, mainly in Europe and USA, because they employ techniques that require sophisticated and expensive equipment, as well as skilled labor. Despite the progress made to date in the production of nematodes, developed technologies still require improvements to maximize the reproductive potential of nematodes in the culture medium as well as to simplify the production process, and increase nematode quality. Thus, this project aims to: 1) Develop more suitable liquid media for mass production of S. feltiae, 2) Develop a biphasic process using fermentation-sponge for mass production of nematodes, 3) Assess the culture broth (residue/disposal) resulting from the in vitro production of nematode, for its effect on plant growth, insect mortality, and antagonism to microorganisms; 4) Develop new formulations of nematodes produced by liquid media and biphasic processes. This project hopes to enable mass productions that allow EPNs meet high consumer demands (such as in Brazil), generating products with more competitive costs in the marketplacee. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LEITE, LUIS G.; SHAPIRO-ILAN, DAVID I.; HAZIR, SELCUK. Survival of Steinernema feltiae in different formulation substrates: Improved longevity in a mixture of gel and vermiculite. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL, v. 126, p. 192-197, NOV 2018. (14/00651-4)

LEITE, L. G.; SHAPIRO-ILAN, D. I.; HAZIR, S.; JACKSON, M. A.. Effect of inoculum age and physical parameters on in vitro culture of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae. JOURNAL OF HELMINTHOLOGY, v. 91, n. 6, p. 686-695, NOV 2017. (14/00651-4)

LEITE, LUIS G.; SHAPIRO-ILAN, DAVID I.; HAZIR, SELCUK; JACKSON, MARK A.. A NEW MEDIUM FOR LIQUID FERMENTATION OF STEINERNEMA FELTIAE: SELECTION OF LIPID AND PROTEIN SOURCES. NEMATROPICA, v. 46, n. 2, p. 147-153, 2016. (14/00651-4)

LEITE, LUIS G.; SHAPIRO-ILAN, DAVID I.; HAZIR, SELCUK; JACKSON, MARK A.. The Effects of Nutrient Concentration, Addition of Thickeners, and Agitation Speed on Liquid Fermentation of Steinernema feltiae. JOURNAL OF NEMATOLOGY, v. 48, n. 2, p. 126-133, JUN 2016. (14/00651-4)