Abstract
The effect of soil moisture on the distribution of Steinernema riobrave in a sand column was determined. Larvae of Pectinophora gossypiella were used to detect S. riobrave infective juveniles (IJ) in each 2.5-cm section of 30-cm-long soil columns. Soil moisture was determined for each section and related to the numbers of nematodes recovered from infected insect baits. Infective juveniles of S. riobrave applied on the sand column surface showed some degree of positive geotaxis. IJ in soil columns with a consistent moisture gradient grouped in the upper 12.7 cm within a water potential range of -40 to -0.0055 MPa (2% to 14% moisture). Nematodes in sand columns that were gradually dehydrating moved down the soil column, aggregating on the 28th day between 15-23 cm in depth. Nematode redistribution over time allowed IJ to remain within a water potential range of -0.1 to -0.012 MPa (5.2% to 9.5% moisture).
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 223-228 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Nematology |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - Jun 2000 |
Keywords
- Entomopathogenic nematodes
- Movement
- Soil moisture
- Spatial distribution
- Steinernema riobrave
- Vertical distribution
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agronomy and Crop Science