In vitro liquid culture of a South African entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema jeffreyense

Abstract: Entomopathogenic nematodes are effective biological control agents against important insect pests. To match the scale of production of chemical based insecticides, EPNs are mass produced using in vitro liquid culture technology. The first step in the mass production of EPNs is to develop a protocol for mass production, after which the culture method of the protocol is optimised. A protocol for the in vitro liquid culture of the EPN Steinernema jeffreyense was developed and optimised on three fronts.