Population variation in traits of <i>Deladenus siricidicola</i> that could influence the biocontrol of <i>Sirex noctilio</i> in South Africa

<i>Deladenus siricidicola</i> is the primary biocontrol agent of the invasive woodwasp, <i>Sirex noctilio.</i> The nematode is mass-reared in culture on the <i>S. noctilio</i> symbiotic fungus, <i>A. areolatum</i>, but can also be induced to convert into its infective form in culture. The aim of this study was to explore the level of variation among a collection of <i>D. siricidicola</i> strains to convert into the infective form in culture. In addition, we measured variation in growth of the nematode on a strain of <i>A. areolatum</i> that is commonly used for laboratory rearing. Both traits could influence laboratory rearing and efficiency in the field. The 22 strains from three countries showed significant variation in the frequency of conversion into the infective form in culture. Even genetically uniform strains from South Africa displayed a range of variation in this trait. There was also significant variation in the growth of <i>D. siricidicola</i> on <i>A. areolatum</i>. These results emphasise the importance of considering variation in traits in <i>D. siricidicola</i> that could influence a biological control program. They also provide tools that could be used to screen larger collections of <i>D. siricidicola</i> for variation in traits linked to virulence and reproduction.西氏戴莱线虫（Deladenus siricidicola）是入侵性昆虫云杉树蜂（Sirex noctilio）的主要生物防治剂。该线虫通常以云杉树蜂的共生真菌环纹阿太菌（A. areolatum）为培养基质进行大规模繁育，亦可在人工培养条件下诱导转化为侵染态。本研究旨在探究一批西氏戴莱线虫菌株在人工培养基中转化为侵染态的性状变异程度。此外，我们还测定了该线虫在实验室繁育常用的环纹阿太菌菌株上的生长性状差异。上述两类性状均会对实验室繁育效果与田间防治效率产生影响。采自3个国家的22株菌株在人工培养基中的侵染态转化频率存在显著差异。即便来自南非的遗传均一菌株群，该性状也表现出一定范围的变异。此外，西氏戴莱线虫在环纹阿太菌上的生长情况同样存在显著差异。本研究结果凸显了考量西氏戴莱线虫相关性状变异对生物防治项目的重要性。同时，本研究提供了可用于大规模筛选西氏戴莱线虫菌株的工具，以鉴定与致病性及繁殖力相关的性状变异。

搜集汇总

背景与挑战

背景概述

该数据集聚焦于Deladenus siricidicola线虫作为Sirex noctilio木蜂生物控制剂的性状变异研究，旨在评估22个来自不同国家菌株在培养中转化为感染形式的频率变异及其在共生真菌上的生长差异。研究发现这些性状存在显著变异，强调了在生物控制程序中考虑遗传多样性的重要性，并为筛选高毒力菌株提供了工具。