entomoparasitic nematodes family is Mermithidae which is reported from at least
fifteen different insect orders (Kaiser 1991).
The primary research relevant to entomophilic nematodes were done late in the
1980s by Zaim et al. (1988). In the mid-1990s, Rahim Parvizi, one of the pioneer
researcher on EPNs, collected the first native isolates of EPNs and assessed their
effects on some insect pests. After his works, several studies on EPNs were done by
others. Encouraging results have been obtained through these investigations, which
we will discuss in two sections: studies on the diversity of EPNs species in the
country and their performance on pests. In the last part, we briefly provide information about other groups of entomoparasitic nematodes that were isolated from Iran.
12.3.1 The Occurrence of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in
Iran
The initial steps for isolation of EPNs in the country goes back to 1990s, when
Parvizi and co-workers isolated Steinernema anomaly, now Steinernema arenarium
Wouts, Mráček, Gerdin & Bedding, 1982, and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora
Poinar, from larvae of Agrotis ipsilon Hufnagel, 1766 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
and Agrotis segetum Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in
irrigated cultivations of West Azerbaijan province. These EPNs species were the first
EPNs found in Iran. Since then, surveys on the occurrence and distribution of EPNs
have been carried out in different regions which resulted in isolation of additional
species, including Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) Wouts, Mráček, Gerdin and Bedding, 1982, Steinernema glaseri (Steiner) Wouts, Mráček, Gerdin & Bedding, 1982,
Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) Wouts, Mráček, Gerdin & Bedding, 1982,
Steinernema bicornutum Tallosi, Peters & Ehlers, 1995, Steinernema kraussei
(Steiner) Travassos, 1927, O. rugaoensis as well as unclassified isolates (Darsouei
et al. 2014; Karimi and Salari 2015). In 2007, Nikdel et al. (2011a, b) wrote about
isolation a new species of steinernematid from Arasbaran forests, near the Kerengan
village, East Azarbaijan province. They assigned this species as Steinernema
arasbaranense and published a work about its description in the Nematologia
Mediterranea journal. In studied sites, the most prevalent species is the ubiquitous
S. feltiae, followed by H. bacteriophora. In Table 12.1, we briefly remark the
achievements of the Iranian researchers on EPNs isolation and their local
distribution.
484
J. Karimi and M. Hassani-Kakhki
fifteen different insect orders (Kaiser 1991).
The primary research relevant to entomophilic nematodes were done late in the
1980s by Zaim et al. (1988). In the mid-1990s, Rahim Parvizi, one of the pioneer
researcher on EPNs, collected the first native isolates of EPNs and assessed their
effects on some insect pests. After his works, several studies on EPNs were done by
others. Encouraging results have been obtained through these investigations, which
we will discuss in two sections: studies on the diversity of EPNs species in the
country and their performance on pests. In the last part, we briefly provide information about other groups of entomoparasitic nematodes that were isolated from Iran.
12.3.1 The Occurrence of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in
Iran
The initial steps for isolation of EPNs in the country goes back to 1990s, when
Parvizi and co-workers isolated Steinernema anomaly, now Steinernema arenarium
Wouts, Mráček, Gerdin & Bedding, 1982, and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora
Poinar, from larvae of Agrotis ipsilon Hufnagel, 1766 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
and Agrotis segetum Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in
irrigated cultivations of West Azerbaijan province. These EPNs species were the first
EPNs found in Iran. Since then, surveys on the occurrence and distribution of EPNs
have been carried out in different regions which resulted in isolation of additional
species, including Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) Wouts, Mráček, Gerdin and Bedding, 1982, Steinernema glaseri (Steiner) Wouts, Mráček, Gerdin & Bedding, 1982,
Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) Wouts, Mráček, Gerdin & Bedding, 1982,
Steinernema bicornutum Tallosi, Peters & Ehlers, 1995, Steinernema kraussei
(Steiner) Travassos, 1927, O. rugaoensis as well as unclassified isolates (Darsouei
et al. 2014; Karimi and Salari 2015). In 2007, Nikdel et al. (2011a, b) wrote about
isolation a new species of steinernematid from Arasbaran forests, near the Kerengan
village, East Azarbaijan province. They assigned this species as Steinernema
arasbaranense and published a work about its description in the Nematologia
Mediterranea journal. In studied sites, the most prevalent species is the ubiquitous
S. feltiae, followed by H. bacteriophora. In Table 12.1, we briefly remark the
achievements of the Iranian researchers on EPNs isolation and their local
distribution.
484
J. Karimi and M. Hassani-Kakhki