Determination of entomopathogenic nematod fauna in Marmara region

This study was conducted during 2006 and 2007, for the goal of surveying and determining the entomopathogenic nematodes occurring in Marmara Region.Our study include Çanakkale, Edirne, Tekirdağ, Kırklareli, İstanbul, Kocaeli, Yalova, Sakarya, Bilecik, Bursa and Balıkesir, totally 11 cities of Marmara Region. We collected soil samples in early summer, may and september. As a result we collected 362 soil samples from Marmara Region, 10-20 soil samples for each city. 22 entomopathogenic nematode isolates recovered from 362 collected soil samples. The ratio of nematode recovery was determined as 6,1 %. 13 isolates are belong to the genus of Steinernema and 9 isolates are belong to the genus of Heterorhabditis. All over the Marmara Region we couldn?t get any positive from only Bilecik and Kocaeli. We recovered 5 positive isolates from İstanbul, 6 positive isolates from Sakarya, 4 positive isolates from Yalova, 2 positive isolates from Çanakkale and one positive isolates from Tekirdağ, Bursa, Edirne, Balıkesir and Kırklareli.Although most of entomopathogenic nematode isolates are recovered from different habitat, they generally recovered more from natural and undisturbed habitat than disturbed habitat. All positives sites recovered from sandy loam, sandy clay loam and loamy sand. Organic matter of positive sites were ranged from 0,43-7,05 and pH of entomopathogenic nematode positive soil samples varied from 5,13 to 8,09. Entomopathogenic nematodes recovered from soil of natural habitat which include oak woodlands, plane tree, pine forest, poplar, willow and grasslands.Some morphological characters of entomopathogenic nematode are determined and based on morphometric data nematode species were identified. The 13 recovered isolates were identified as Steinernema feltiae, Steinernema affine and one isolate were Steinernema carpocapsae, 9 recovered isolates were identified as Heterorhabditis bacteriophora.Our survey proved that; the most common entomopathogenic nematode species all over the world and Europa; Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora are also the most common nematode species in Marmara Region.By this results after surveying entomopathogenic nematode fauna in Marmara Region we are planning to continue these studies with more details of using much isolates and their biological and ecological characters recovered during the survey from this region and use of these isolates in future biological control programme because entomopathogenic nematodes can provide effective biological control of some important insect pests so we must determine their efficacy and use their success against the pests in Marmara Region for future.Key Words: Marmara Region, Galleria mellonella, Steinernema feltiae, Steinernema affine, Steinernema carpocapsae, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Biological control.