The aim of the paper was to identify the influence of magnesium on the preservation of pathogenic abilities of entomopathogenic nematodes living in soil contaminated with oil derivatives. Entomopathogenic nematodes living under natural conditions in soil or applied to soil as biopreparations for plant pest control are sensitive to soil contamination with heavy metals and oil derivatives. These nematodes do not respond directly by higher mortality but by a decrease in their pathogenic abilities, which adversely affects the success in searching and eliminating pests. A Polish commercial preparation called OWINEMA SC, containing infective juveniles of Steinernema feltiae Filipjev (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), was used to test the effect of oil derivatives on pathogenicity and reproduction of entomopathogenic nematodes. Soil was polluted with petrol, diesel oil and used engine oil; the control was soil unpolluted with oil derivatives. Magnesium sulphate was also added (MgSO4∙H2O) in the amount of 160 mg per 1 liter of the suspension. The three oil derivatives in concentrations of: 0.3, 0.6 and 1.0 g or in double doses, i.e. 0.6, 1.2 and 2.0 g were poured over weighted soil batches. The control remained intact. Three replications of each treatment were made. Subsequently, Tenebrio molitor L. larvae used as bait inesct were placed in containers with the suspension. The bait insects were kept in the containers for 7 days, and afterwards they were removed from the soil and taken from the traps in order to check their mortality rate. Furthermore, to test the reproduction ability of entomopathogenic nematodes, dead larvae were moved to “islands” previously prepared according to the Dutky method. The results were presented as the number of entomopathogenic nematodes per 1 dead larvae of Tenebrio molitor L.

19.3.2014