Effectiveness of entomopathogenic nematode-induced systemic resistance against selected pests and pathogens of tobacco

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are important biological control agents of insect pests. EPNs are mutualistically associated with bacteria in the family Enterobacteriacae. This association with bacteria allows EPNs to exploit a diverse array of soil insects as hosts. EPNs are commercially available as bio-control agents primarily to control soil dwelling insect pests. It has been recently reported that EPNs applied to soil can induce systemic resistance in plants. Reductions in populations of non-target plant parasitic nematodes and foliar nematodes, slowed development of chewing and sucking insect pests, and reduced severity of bacterial plant pathogens have been reported. This study aimed to explore the potential utility of the EPN induced systemic resistance in tobacco and soybeans to fight major insect pests and pathogens. The specific objectives of this research were to (1) determine if EPN-induced systemic resistance occurs in tobacco and soybean under growth chamber conditions against a chewing insect pest, Helicoverpa zea (EPN used will be Steinernematids) and to (2) evaluate effectiveness of EPN-induced systemic resistance against naturally occurring major insect pests and bacterial pathogens in field settings on tobacco. Actigard, a commercially available chemical compound used to induce systemic resistance in plants against bacterial pathogens, was included as a positive control in the experiments. The results of these studies will be presented.