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.

Taxonomic and molecular characterization of a new entomopathogenic nematode species, Heterorhabditis casmirica n. sp., and whole genome sequencing of its associated bacterial symbiont.

Background: Nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis are important biocontrol agents as they form a lethal combination with their symbiotic Photorhabdus bacteria against agricultural insect pests. This study describes a new species of Heterorhabditis.

Methods: Six Heterorhabditis nematode populations were recovered from agricultural soils in Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Xenorhabdus aichiensis sp. nov., Xenorhabdus anantnagensis sp. nov., and Xenorhabdus yunnanensis sp. nov., Isolated from Steinernema Entomopathogenic Nematodes.

Three bacterial strains, XENO-2, XENO-7, and XENO-10, isolated from Steinernema entomopathogenic nematodes, were found to represent novel Xenorhabdus species. In this study, we describe these new species by whole-genome and whole-proteome phylogenomic reconstructions, by calculating sequence identity scores using core genome sequences, and by phenotypic characterization. Phylogenomic reconstructions using ribosomal and house-keeping genes, and whole-genome and whole-proteome sequences show that XENO-2 and XENO-10 are closely related to Xenorhabdus japonica DSM 16522 and that XENO-7 is closely related to Xenorhabdus bovienii subsp.

Multigene Sequence-Based and Phenotypic Characterization Reveals the Occurrence of a Novel Entomopathogenic Nematode Species, n. sp.

Three entomopathogenic nematode populations were isolated from agricultural fields in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir (India). Sequences of multiple gene regions and phenotypic features show that they are conspecific and represent a novel species. Molecular and morphological features provided evidence for placing the new species into the "" clade.