An indigenous strain of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar
has a high potential for biocontrol of white grub in the strawberry
fields. The beneficial traits have a marked influence on EPN foraging behavior, persistence, and movement direction with implications for harnessing them as biological pest control agents [259].
The bacteria colonizing the midgut of the infected insect cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) exhibit antagonistic activity against
the selected species of the genera Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus,
thus opening avenues for increasing the efficacy of pest management programs [260].
EPNs present themselves as a model system in Drosophila to
understand the host’s anti-nematode response furthering insight
into clotting factors, immune factors, or hemocyte behavior,
increased temporal and spatial infection kinetics to have a knowledge regarding a threshold for overcoming the host immune system, which has implications for both the agricultural industry and
human health [261].
The first agricultural biocontrol experiment in space gives
insight to dynamics of EPN foraging and infectivity in microgravity,
long-term space flight for symbiotic organisms, parasite biology,
and the potential for sustainable crop protection in space [262].
2 Future Prospect
Entomopathogenic nematodes have been ecologically successful as
exemplified by their wide distribution throughout the world [263].
Frequent surveys are done on isolation and identification of
EPNs in different continents of the world to explore untouched
geographic areas and climatic conditions, in both plantations and
indigenous forests with an aim to identify and exploit additional
EPN species.
The study of symbiont properties, such as cellular exportation,
exoenzymatic activities, special metabolites, pathogenic processes,
capabilities to differentiate into multicellular populations for the
colonization of different habitats, are bringing new insights for
microbiology.
Progress in the areas of nematode-bacteria mutualism makes
EPNs as an outstanding model for research in symbiosis, ecology,
evolution, molecular genetics, and biochemistry. The emerging
new, natural bioactive compounds from the EPN bacterial symbionts, Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus are anticipated to be used
directly as pharmaceutical drugs. From an applied perspective,
numerous technological innovations are accomplishing in relation
to their implementation in biocontrol.
The future of entomopathogenic nematodes as potential biopesticides is promising. Their success is bound with the innovative
ideas of incorporating EPN methodologies in insect pest
160
Recent Advances and Future Prospect
has a high potential for biocontrol of white grub in the strawberry
fields. The beneficial traits have a marked influence on EPN foraging behavior, persistence, and movement direction with implications for harnessing them as biological pest control agents [259].
The bacteria colonizing the midgut of the infected insect cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) exhibit antagonistic activity against
the selected species of the genera Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus,
thus opening avenues for increasing the efficacy of pest management programs [260].
EPNs present themselves as a model system in Drosophila to
understand the host’s anti-nematode response furthering insight
into clotting factors, immune factors, or hemocyte behavior,
increased temporal and spatial infection kinetics to have a knowledge regarding a threshold for overcoming the host immune system, which has implications for both the agricultural industry and
human health [261].
The first agricultural biocontrol experiment in space gives
insight to dynamics of EPN foraging and infectivity in microgravity,
long-term space flight for symbiotic organisms, parasite biology,
and the potential for sustainable crop protection in space [262].
2 Future Prospect
Entomopathogenic nematodes have been ecologically successful as
exemplified by their wide distribution throughout the world [263].
Frequent surveys are done on isolation and identification of
EPNs in different continents of the world to explore untouched
geographic areas and climatic conditions, in both plantations and
indigenous forests with an aim to identify and exploit additional
EPN species.
The study of symbiont properties, such as cellular exportation,
exoenzymatic activities, special metabolites, pathogenic processes,
capabilities to differentiate into multicellular populations for the
colonization of different habitats, are bringing new insights for
microbiology.
Progress in the areas of nematode-bacteria mutualism makes
EPNs as an outstanding model for research in symbiosis, ecology,
evolution, molecular genetics, and biochemistry. The emerging
new, natural bioactive compounds from the EPN bacterial symbionts, Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus are anticipated to be used
directly as pharmaceutical drugs. From an applied perspective,
numerous technological innovations are accomplishing in relation
to their implementation in biocontrol.
The future of entomopathogenic nematodes as potential biopesticides is promising. Their success is bound with the innovative
ideas of incorporating EPN methodologies in insect pest
160
Recent Advances and Future Prospect