Bakterie symbiotyczne związane z nicieniami owadobójczymi z rodziny Steinernematidae i Heterorhabditidae w biologicznej ochronie roślin

Entomopathogenic nematodes in the family Steinernematidae (Filipjev, 1934) and Heterorhabditidae (Poinar, 1976) include more than 90 species and are symbiotically related to bacteria in the genera Xenorhabdus (Poinar, 1979) and Photorhabdus (Boemare, 1993). These nematodes are recognized as promising agents for biological control of many insect pest species in crops. The nematodes act as vectors, allowing the bacteria to enter the insect’s body, while the bacteria, after killing the insect, provide the nematodes with continued access to food and an environment for reproduction. Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria are closely related phylogenetically, but differ in their host specificity and production of different antibiotics and insecticidal toxins. Due to this symbiosis, they have been successfully implemented in integrated pest management programs around the world due to their strong insecticidal properties and wide range of action. This work presents a review of the symbiosis between bacteria and nematodes and their relationship in biological plant protec­tion.