**Future Biological Control for Soybean Cyst Nematode**

Masanori Koike1, Ryoji Shinya2, Daigo Aiuchi3, Manami Mori1, Rui Ogino1, Hiroto Shinomiya1, Masayuki Tani1 and Mark Goettel4 *1Department of Agro-environmental Science Obihrio University of Agriculture & Veterinary Medicine* 

*2Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University 3National Research Center of Protozoan Disease Obihrio University of Agriculture & Veterinary Medicine 4Lethbridge Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge 1,2,3Japan 4Canada* 

#### **1. Introduction**

192 Soybean Physiology and Biochemistry

Yorinori, J.T.; Hiromoto, D.M. (1998). *Determinação de perdas em soja causadas por doenças* 

Londrina. p. 112-114 (Embrapa-CNPSo. Documentos, 118).

*fúngicas*. In: EMBRAPA – Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Soja. Embrapa- CNPSo,

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) *Heterodera glycines* Ichinohe, is widely distributed in soybean-producing countries. The losses in total yield caused by SCN are greater than those for any other pest of soybean (Wrather et al., 2001). These nematodes have generally been controlled by rotating soybeans with nonhost crops, planting of resistant cultivars, application of effective nematocides and organic materials, and physical control techniques such as solarisation. The combination of biological control with above methods will enhance the effectiveness of nematode control. Recently, numerous studies have been conducted on the fungal antagonist of SCNs (Chen and Dickson, 1996; Kim and Riggs, 1991, 1995; Liu and Chen, 2001; Meyer and Huettel, 1996; Meyer and Meyer, 1996; Timper et al., 1999); however, few biological control agents have been commercialized to date.

*Lecanicillium* spp. (formally, *Verticillium lecanii*) have been studied as potential biological control agents for SCN. Entomopathogenic *Lecanicillium* spp. are ubiquitously distributed in soils, although these fungi are mainly isolated from insects. Numerous strains have been commercialized worldwide as biopesticides namely of aphids, thrips and mites (Faria and Wraight, 2007; Kabaluk et al, 2010) . In addition, it is known that *Lecanicillium* spp. have a broad host range, *e.g.*, insects, phytopathogenic fungi, and plant-parasitic nematodes (Hall, 1981; Meyer et al., 1990; Goettel et al., 2008) providing the possibility that strains could be found that could be developed for simultaneous control of multiple pest problems. For instance, a strain of *L. longisporum* was found to effectively control both cucumber powdery mildew and aphids (Kim et al, 2007, 2008, 2010).

One strain of *Lecanicillium* sp was found to exhibit high virulence to SCNs, although it was found to be a poor colonizer of the soybean rhizosphere (Meyer and Wergin, 1998). However, it is quite likely that other strains are more aggressive rhizosphere colonizers because *Lecanicillium* spp. (*V. lecanii*) possess varied abilities among different strains (Sugimoto et al., 2003). The objective of this chapter is to review the development of entomopathogenic *Lecanicillium* hybrid strains with effects on the SCN, and discuss the future prospects for its use in the biological control of the SCN.
