Expected Output

Outputs

• Authentically identified species of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) and their symbiotic bacteria (EPB); Enriching the National Nematode Collection of India and  Microbial Collection with Live cultures of EPNs and EPBs, alongwith their rDNA Libraries.
• Information on the distribution pattern of EPN, their EPB and the target insect pests in different cropping systems and their specificities.
• Identification of location-specific and target host-specific EPN-EPB complexes, will enhance their biocontrol potential for their wide spread use under field conditions.
• Knowing the basic differences between primary and secondary phases in two types of symbiotic bacteria with reversible (Steinernema-Xenorhabdus) and irreversible (Heterorhabditis-Photorhabdus) phase transition systems.
• Identification of factors responsible for phase transition in Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, and those supporting nematode reproduction, will greatly aid in developing novel strategies to overcome/delay the phase transition, which will be of immense use in promoting efficient in-vitro mass production techniques for entomopathogenic nematodes for commercial use.
• Novel biotoxin molecules from the symbiotic bacteria will be available for developing broad-spectrum biopesticidal formulations effective in nano-doses, for promoting organic farming.
• Knowing the role of bacteria other than Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus in insect pathogenesis, will provide novel concepts of virulence in ENBI complexes.
• The employment and training of fresh human resource through this project will create interest in the field of Entomopathogenic Nematology, which is urgently needed for exploiting the multi-dimensional potential of nematode-bacterium complexes, not only in Crop Protection but also in the Pharmaceuticals in the long-run.

Outcome and Impact

• Providing location-specific as well as target host- specific biopesticidal EPNs, for use in IPM.
• Super EPN with higher biocontrol potential and stability, having desired biopesticidal traits.
• Novel strategies to overcome/delay phase transition in EPB, for developing improved methods for efficient in vitro nematode multiplication.
• Novel biotoxin molecules effective in nano doses can be used for developing broad spectrum biopesticidal formulations.
• Novel strategies for developing need based biopesticidal formulations of EPN, depending on the infection site and the feeding habits of the different pests.
• Basic knowledge about the nematode-bacterium-insect interactions in different cropping systems will form a basis for designing more effective EPNs specific to cropping systems.