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McDonald-Howard, K-L (2023) Investigations into the efficacy of the slug and snail biological control Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita. Doctoral thesis, Liverpool John Moores University.
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Abstract
Pestiferous slugs are usually controlled by molluscicide pellets which can be toxic to non-target organisms and is a pollutant of water sources. An alternative is the parasitic nematode of gastropods, Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita. However, there have been reports of varying efficacy in literature and from members of the Royal Horticultural Society. Our aim was to investigate the effects of abiotic factors on P. hermaphrodita and investigate potential ways to enhance the performance of the control. Experiments using different soil types and various temperatures have been carried out; firstly investigating the survival and secondly how the ability to move and to parasitise is impacted. Field trials have been completed incorporating the knowledge learnt from laboratory experiments and we have attempted to enhance the efficacy of the biocontrol with the use of a synergistic approach using bio-rational controls of various essential oils. A method of culturing slugs was developed to produce the number of viable eggs and slugs we needed for some of the experiments with the oils. Lastly, we looked at how the gut biome of a slug is impacted by infection of P. hermaphrodita.
In summary, this study has shown how important temperature and soil type is to the survival and efficacy of P. hermaphrodita. It has suggested cedarwood oil could be used as a new slug control method and interestingly, the nematode can severely affect the gut microbiome of the slugs.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita; parasitic nematode; Gastropod; Slugs; biocontrol; abiotic; Essential oils; synergistic controls; microbiome |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QH Natural history Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology |
| Divisions: | Biological & Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19) |
| SWORD Depositor: | A Symplectic |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Jun 2023 10:10 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Jun 2023 10:12 |
| DOI or ID number: | 10.24377/LJMU.t.00019603 |
| Supervisors: | Rae, R, Williams, C and Jones, H |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/19603 |
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