?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1016%2Fj.apsoil.2017.02.006&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=https%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2Fid%2Feprint%2F33974%2F&rft.title=Effects+of+cover+crops+on+the+overwintering+success+of+entomopathogenic+nematodes+and+their+antagonists&rft.creator=Jaffuel%2C+Goeffrey&rft.creator=Blanco-Perez%2C+Ruben&rft.creator=B%C3%BCchi%2C+Lucie&rft.creator=M%C3%A4der%2C+Paul&rft.creator=Fliessbach%2C+Andreas&rft.creator=Charles%2C+Raphael&rft.creator=Degen%2C+Thomas&rft.creator=Turlings%2C+Ted+C.J.&rft.creator=Campos-Herrera%2C+Raquel&rft.subject=+Crop+combinations+and+interactions&rft.subject=Crop+health%2C+quality%2C+protection&rft.description=Conservation+agriculture+is+arising+as+an+alternative+to+conventional+agriculture+with+the+aim+to+have+a+reduced+impact+on+the+environment.+This+includes+the+use+of+cover+crops+to+conserve+soil+quality+by+limiting+soil+erosion%2C+adding+organic+matter%2C+and+enhancing+soil+nutrient+content%2C+as+well+as+water+availability%2C+which+are+all+factors+that+can+greatly+influence+the+presence+of+soil+organisms.+In+the+current+study%2C+we+investigated+whether+winter+cover+crops+can+enhance+the+persistence+of+entomopathogenic+nematodes+(EPN)+over+the+winter+season.+In+a+first+trial+we+augmented+EPN+populations+in+plots+without+(bared)+and+with+the+cover+crops%2C+pea+(Pisum+sativum)+or+mustard+(Brassica+juncea).+In+late+autumn%2C+individual+mini-plots+in+each+of+the+three+treatments+were+supplemented+with+infective+juveniles+(IJs)+of+either+Heterorhabditis+bacteriophora+or+Steinernema+feltiae.+In+a+second+trial+we+studied+naturally+occurring+EPN+in+plots+without+(bared)+and+with+the+cover+crop+pea+(Pisum+sativum)+followed+by+planting+of+winter+wheat.+To+identify+and+quantify+EPN%2C+we+analyzed+soil+samples+using+quantitative+real+time+PCR+(qPCR)+at+three+time+points+over+the+winter+season.+We+also+measured+the+activity+of+augmented+EPN+by+baiting+the+soil+with+wax+moth+larvae%2C+Galleria+mellonella.+In+addition%2C+we+used+the+qPCR+method+to+investigate+the+presence+of+nematophagous+fungi+(NF)%2C+free-living+nematodes+(FLN)+and+ectoparasitic+bacteria%2C+all+of+which+can+interfere+with+EPN+performance.+Numbers+of+naturally+occurring+EPN+in+the+investigated+fields+were+very+low+(%3C+1+EPN+per+100+g+of+soil).+The+cover+crops+only+had+a+significant+positive+effect+on+the+numbers+of+augmented+S.+feltiae+found+in+early+winter.+No+striking+effect+was+found+for+H.+bacteriophora.+Yet%2C+augmentation+was+found+to+enhance+the+insect-suppressiveness+of+the+soil%2C+as+the+recorded+EPN+infectivity+after+the+winter+was+slightly+higher+than+what+was+observed+in+autumn%2C+one+month+after+application.+The+numbers+of+FLN%2C+which+compete+for+insect+cadavers%2C+was+higher+in+spring+than+in+early+winter.+These+FLN+and+other+antagonists+may+be+important+in+reducing+EPN+numbers.+In+conclusion%2C+the+effect+of+cover+crops+on+EPN+persistence+was+only+evident+during+early-winter+and+was+only+significant+in+the+plots+augmented+with+S.+feltiae.+Moreover%2C+we+found+that+higher+numbers+of+EPN+in+agricultural+soils+do+not+necessarily+translate+into+high+infectivity%2C+which+is+the+key+factor+determining+their+effectiveness+in+controlling+soil+pests.&rft.date=2017&rft.type=Journal+paper&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=%2Fid%2Feprint%2F33974%2F1%2FJaffuel_AppliedSoilEcology_2017.pdf&rft.identifier=+++Jaffuel%2C+Goeffrey%3B+Blanco-Perez%2C+Ruben%3B+B%C3%BCchi%2C+Lucie%3B+M%C3%A4der%2C+Paul%3B+Fliessbach%2C+Andreas%3B+Charles%2C+Raphael%3B+Degen%2C+Thomas%3B+Turlings%2C+Ted+C.J.+and+Campos-Herrera%2C+Raquel+++(2017)+Effects+of+cover+crops+on+the+overwintering+success+of+entomopathogenic+nematodes+and+their+antagonists.+++Applied+Soil+Ecology%2C+114%2C+pp.+62-73.++++++++&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1016%2Fj.apsoil.2017.02.006&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1016%2Fj.apsoil.2017.02.006