Morphomolecular characterization of invasive fruit borer infesting apple.

Apple, a vital fruit crop worldwide and a major crop grown in northern parts of India, acts as a backbone for the survival and livelihood of the farming community. However, it is prone to severe damage from insect pests and diseases. In the past few years, due to erratic weather patterns, there has been an alarmingly increased infestation of different insect pests, both invasive and non-invasive, resulting in substantial economic losses to this industry.

Morphological and molecular profiling of an entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae: Unlocking its biocontrol potential against vegetable insect pests.

A population of entomopathogenic nematodes, belonging to the Feltiae-clade and labelled J13, was discovered in the agricultural soils of the hilly regions of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Based on morphological, morphometric, and molecular analyses, the nematodes were identified as Steinernema feltiae. The J13 nematode isolate was tested in a laboratory assay for its pathogenicity against six major pests of vegetable crops: Pieris brassicae, Plutella xylostella, Helicoverpa armigera, Agrotis iplison, Trichoplusia ni, and Exelastis atomosa.