Enhanced ambient storage stability of an entomopathogenic nematode throughanhydrobiosis

Limited shelf-life is a major obstacle to large-scale use of entomopathogen ic nematodes in biological control. Recently, the development of a water-di spersible granular formulation (WG) containing entomopathogenic nematodes w as described. This paper reports that storage stability of Steinernema carp ocapsae Weiser infective juveniles at 25 degrees C is enhanced from three t o six months in this WG. It is also demonstrated that the enhanced stabilit y is achieved through the induction of partial anhydrobiosis that reduces o xygen and Lipid reserve utilization by infective juveniles. Nematode infect ivity is unaffected during storage under partial anhydrobiosis in the WG fo rmulation. (C) 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.