Phylogenetic relationships of insect-associated free-living rhabditid nematodes from eastern mediterranean region of Turkey

© 2016, ALÖKI Kft., Budapest, Hungary.Free-living nematodes play an important role in nutrient cycling. The study was designed to characterize insect-associated free-living soil nematodes in Rhabditida order from Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey using their 28S rDNA sequences and phylogenetic analysis. A total of 105 soil samples were taken from different habitats. Galleria baiting technique was used to obtain free-living nematodes. The nematodes were harvested from cadavers of last instar Galleria mellonella larvaeafter trapping process. Free-living soil nematodes were detected in 14 soil samples (13.3%). PCR products obtained from 28S rDNA of isolates were sequenced and phylogenetic trees created. BLASTN homology searches and phylogenetic tree results constructed by Neighbour Joining and Bootstrap Tree methods. Results showed that these insect-associated isolates were determined as species belonging to Rhabditidae (Rhabditis terricola and Mesorhabditis sp.), Chambersiellidae (Macrolaimus sp.) and Cephalobidae (Cephalobus sp., Pseudacrobeles sp. and Acrobeloides sp.) families in Rhabditida. Free-living nematodes interact with many arthropods and other invertebrate species. These interactions are also important for their use in biological control program. In this study, these interactions between free-living nematode-insect, –arthropod and–invertebrate are discussed

Native entomopathogenic nematodes isolated from Turkey and their effectiveness on pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams

© 2014 Taylor & Francis.Two native entomopathogenic nematodes were isolated from soil samples in Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey and characterized based on 28S rDNA region. BLASTN homology and phylogenetic analysis of SK17 and SK-71 isolates indicated 98% and 99% identity to Steinernema affine and Steinernema feltiae, respectively. The results were constructed by neighbour-joining and bootstrap tree methods. Efficacy of S. affine (SK-17 strain) and S. feltiae (SK-71 strain) was tested against the larvae of pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams, and remarkable mortality rates were obtained. Both strains caused complete mortality upon application of 500 IJs in foliar tests. However, the same strains caused 30% and 33% mortality at 80 IJs/cm2 in soil applications. It was concluded that these native strains could be considered as potential biocontrol agents for reducing the damage caused by T. wilkinsoni larvae