Potential of Steinernema feltiae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) Native Populations in the Biocontrol of Lycoriella ingenua (Diptera: Sciaridae) and Their Impact on Mushroom Production

Tanja Drobnjaković, Nikola Grujić (), Jelena Luković, Nikola Anđelković, Ivana Potočnik, Svetlana Milijašević-Marčić, Ljiljana Šantrić, Angelina Popović and Dejan Marčić
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Tanja Drobnjaković: Institute of Pesticides and Environmental Protection, Banatska 31B, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Nikola Grujić: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Jelena Luković: Institute of Pesticides and Environmental Protection, Banatska 31B, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Nikola Anđelković: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Ivana Potočnik: Institute of Pesticides and Environmental Protection, Banatska 31B, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Svetlana Milijašević-Marčić: Institute of Pesticides and Environmental Protection, Banatska 31B, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Ljiljana Šantrić: Institute of Pesticides and Environmental Protection, Banatska 31B, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Angelina Popović: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Dejan Marčić: Institute of Pesticides and Environmental Protection, Banatska 31B, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: Lycoriella ingenua (Dufour) is a major pest in mushroom facilities in Serbia and worldwide. The study aimed to determine the virulence (in vitro) and effectiveness (in vivo) of three Serbian native populations of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev), P9, K2, and ZŠT, compared to a commercial population of S. feltiae against L. ingenua , and their impact on mushroom yield. In vitro bioassays showed that seven days after exposure to a series of nematode suspensions (IJ cm −2 ), two of the three native (P9 and K2) populations and the commercial population of S . feltiae caused significant mortality of L 4 instar larvae of L. ingenua . The following LC 50s were estimated: 18.47, 15.77, and 11.48 IJ cm −2 for P9, K2, and the commercial populations, respectively. These populations were further used for in vivo bioassays, where their IJs were applied as drench treatment twice (at the rate of 75 IJ cm −2 ) during casing time and seven days later. Control of L. ingenua larvae with the commercial population of S. feltiae was 85%, while the effectiveness of the native populations was 70%. The lack of adequate pest control measures emphasizes a need to promote local EPNs as biologically based and ecotoxicologically safe products.

Keywords: fungus gnat; Entomopathogenic nematodes; biological control; mushrooms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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