Bar-Eyal, M., Department of Entomology and Nematology, Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Sharon, E., Department of Entomology and Nematology, Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Spiegel, Y., Department of Entomology and Nematology, Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Oka, Y., Nematology Unit, Gilat Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, M. P. Negev 85280, Israel

The predatory nematode Koerneria sudhausi reproduced on bacteria that developed spontaneously on a nutrient medium in Petri dishes. The nematode population had a female/male ratio of 2.9:1, but female nematodes could reproduce asexually on the bacteria. Each female produced about 60 progeny at 25°C in 9 days without mating. The generation time (egg to egg) at the same temperature was 8 days. Koerneria sudhausi reproduced at 17°C at the same rate as at 25°C, if the bacteria were available as a food source. When the nematode was introduced to a monoxenic culture of Meloidogyne javanica on tomato roots on agar, the nematode fed on second-stage juveniles and eggs. The nematodes introduced to M. javanica-inoculated soil before transplanting tomato seedlings reduced the root galling index in pot experiments. The results suggested that this predatory nematode, K. sudhausi, may serve as a candidate for a biological control agent against root-knot nematodes, because the nematode can be easily cultured on bacteria and achieve a high reproduction rate. © 2008 Brill.