First record of entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) from Nigerian soil and their morphometrical and ribosomal DNA sequence analysis
Authors
F. Akyazi
M. A. Ansari
B. I. Ahmed
W. T. Crow
T. Mekete
Abstract
A survey on the occurrence of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) was conducted in Niger, Kano and Plateau States of Nigeria. From the total of 200 soil samples, 13 (6.5%) tested positive for the presence of EPNs, containing the genera Steinernema and Heterorhabditis. Morphological characterization and sequence analysis of the ITS regions of ribosomal DNA allowed the identification of EPN isolates as Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema feltiae representing the first report of these nematodes from Nigeria.