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Biodiversity of entomopathogenic nematodes in Italy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2014

E. Tarasco ,
M. Clausi ,
G. Rappazzo ,
T. Panzavolta ,
G. Curto ,
R. Sorino ,
M. Oreste ,
A. Longo ,
D. Leone  and
R. Tiberi
...Show all authors
E. Tarasco
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo della Pianta e degli Alimenti (Di.S.S.P.A.), Università degli Studi di Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126Bari, Italy
M. Clausi*
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Sez. Biologia Animale ‘M. La Greca’, Università degli Studi di Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124Catania, Italy
G. Rappazzo
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Sez. Biologia Animale ‘M. La Greca’, Università degli Studi di Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124Catania, Italy
T. Panzavolta
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Agrarie, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via Maragliano, 75-77, 50144Firenze, Italy
G. Curto
Affiliation:
Servizio Fitosanitario dell'Emilia Romagna, via di Corticella,133, 40128Bologna, Italy
R. Sorino
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126Bari, Italy
M. Oreste
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo della Pianta e degli Alimenti (Di.S.S.P.A.), Università degli Studi di Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126Bari, Italy
A. Longo
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Sez. Biologia Animale ‘M. La Greca’, Università degli Studi di Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124Catania, Italy
D. Leone
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Sez. Biologia Animale ‘M. La Greca’, Università degli Studi di Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124Catania, Italy
R. Tiberi
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Agrarie, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via Maragliano, 75-77, 50144Firenze, Italy
M.T. Vinciguerra
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Sez. Biologia Animale ‘M. La Greca’, Università degli Studi di Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124Catania, Italy
O. Triggiani
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo della Pianta e degli Alimenti (Di.S.S.P.A.), Università degli Studi di Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126Bari, Italy
*
*Fax: +39957306046 E-mail: mclausi@unict.it
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Abstract

An investigation was carried out on the distribution and biodiversity of steinernematid and heterorhabdtid entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) in nine regions of Italy in the period 1990–2010. More than 2000 samples were collected from 580 localities and 133 of them yielded EPN specimens. A mapping of EPN distribution in Italy showed 133 indigenous EPN strains belonging to 12 species: 43 isolates of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, 1 of H. downesi, 1 of H. megidis, 51 of Steinernema feltiae, 12 of S. affine, 4 of S. kraussei, 8 of S. apuliae, 5 of S. ichnusae, 3 of S. carpocapsae, 1 of S. vulcanicum, 3 of Steinernema ‘isolate S.sp.MY7’ of ‘S. intermedium group’ and 1 of S.arenarium. Steinernematids are more widespread than heterorhabditids and S. feltiae and H. bacteriophora are the most commonly encountered species. Sampling sites were grouped into 11 habitats: uncultivated land, orchard, field, sea coast, pinewood, broadleaf wood, grasslands, river and lake borders, caves, salt pan and moist zones; the soil texture of each site was defined and the preferences of habitat and soil texture of each species was assessed. Except for the two dominant species, S. feltiae and H. bacteriophora, EPN occurrence tends to be correlated with a specific vegetation habitat. Steinernema kraussei, H. downesi and H. megidis were collected only in Sicily and three of the species recently described – S. apuliae, S. ichnusae and S. vulcanicum – are known only from Italy and seem to be endemic.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 89 , Issue 3 , May 2015 , pp. 359 - 366
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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