Vol. 11, Special Issue 12 (2022)

The survey was conducted in Anand city and its adjoining area during Kharif-2021 to isolate native entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). A total of 94 soil samples were collected from fruit plants, perennial trees and fallow land, out of them two samples were found positive for EPNs, one from the campus of the Bhikhabhai Jivabhai Vanijya Mahavidhyalaya (Palm) and the second one from Atmiya Vidhya Dham (fallow land). The frequency of occurrence of these nematodes was 2.13 per cent. Based on primary identification up to the genera level, the first isolate was identified as Heterorhabditis sp. (Anand H-I). and the second was Steinernema sp. (Anand St-I). Both isolates were mass multiplied on six different artificial media. The maximum multiplication of Heterorhabditis sp. (Anand H-I) and Steinernema sp. (Anand St-I) was observed on Wout’s medium followed by Soya flour medium for Heterorhabditis sp. (Anand H-I) and Bengal gram medium for Steinernema sp. (Anand St-I).