Isolation, Identification and Evaluation of Entomopathogenic Nematodes against Eggplant Fruit and Shoot Borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenée), [Lepidoptera: Crambidae] Attacking Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract
the use of biological control such as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) could offer an effective, economical, and environmentally-friendly alternative management against the eggplant fruit and shoot borer (EFSB), Leucinodes orbonalis (Guenée). This study was conducted to isolate and identify EPNs from soils grown to eggplant and evaluate their efficacy against the EFSB. The EPNs were isolated and recovered using the insect baiting method. Morbid insect larvae were suspended in sterile water for 72 hours, and the suspension was examined under a stereomicroscope for the presence of EPN. From the four different areas, Heterorhabditis was identified through morphological characters. The in vitro efficacy of EPN was determined by inoculating three different concentrations of nematodes. Results revealed that there was an increasing percentage of both mortality and infection of the insect after 24-72 hours of incubation. At 72 hours, high percentages of infection were observed at the concentrations of 100 and 200 infective juveniles per ml with an average mortality of 60% and 78.33%, respectively. Thus, EPNs were effective at this particular concentration against EFSB

Keywords: Solanum melongena, Leucinodes orbonalis, biological control agent, Heterorhabditis, Eggplant fruit and shoot borer