Pathogenicity of Selected Kenyan Entomopathogenic Nematodes of Genus Steinernema against Banana Weevil (Cosmopolites Sordidus)

Author
Listed author(s):

• Moses Mwaniki Ndiritu
  (Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection Faculty of Agriculture; University of Nairobi, Kenya)
• Dora Kilalo
  (Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection Faculty of Agriculture; University of Nairobi, Kenya)
• John Wangai Kimenju
  (Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection Faculty of Agriculture; University of Nairobi, Kenya)
• Shelmith Waruguru Mwaniki
  (Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO-Kabete), Kenya)

Abstract

Banana weevil is a pest with a great impact on banana production in the world. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pathogenicity of the Kenyan entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) of genus Steinernema against the weevil Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) under laboratory conditions. Adult weevils were trapped from banana fields in Maragua, Central Kenya and larvae extracted from the infested banana rhizomes. The adults were treated with three Kenyan EPNs Steinernema weiseri, Steinernema yirgalemense and the new Steinernema spp and with Steinernema carpocapsae ALL strain as a standard and plain distilled water as a control in five replicates. The treatments were 500ijs, 750ijs and 1000ijs per adult on petri dishes and 1000ijs, 3000ijs and 5000ijs per adult on pseudo-stems. The treatments for larvae in petri dishes were 300ijs, 400ijs and 500ijs. The adults were not susceptible to all the nematodes at all doses and preparations while larvae were highly susceptible to the four test EPNs at all concentrations. There was a significant difference at P

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