Biotechnology Letters, Vol.23, No.4, 311-315, 2001
Population growth kinetics of the nematode, Steinernema feltiae, in submerged monoxenic culture
Monoxenic cultures of the nematode, Steinernema feltiae, were carried out on two complex liquid media: P1, mainly soybean flour/egg yolk/yeast extract, and P2, mainly egg yolk/yeast extract. Up to 140 000-200 000 nematodes ml(-1) were produced within 7 days, and more than 95% of the final population was in the infective juvenile stage. The total nematode concentration growth curve had a sigmoidal shape. Nematode population growth kinetics were modelled using a re-parameterised Gompertz model. Yeast extract concentration appeared to be a key factor for obtaining high nematode concentrations.
Keywords:biological control;entomopathogenic nematode;monoxenic culture;population growth kinetics;Steinernema feltiae