Enhancing Sustainable Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Potentials of Entomopathogenic Nematodes for Pest Control

Abstract

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are a type of soil-dwelling nematodes with a remarkable ability to infect insect pests. Their employment for control of pests is a means to foster sustainable agricultural practices. These environmentally safe alternatives to pesticides are being researched in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), but there are many gaps to be filled, which this review exposes. The systematic analysis of peer-reviewed articles from 2003 to 2022 shows that about 56% of published articles on EPNs in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) come from studies in South Africa. In SSA, applied pest management studies of these nematodes have focused on Lepidopteran (41.7%), Coleopteran (22.2%), and Hemipteran (18.1%) pests, with Cydia sp., Planococcus sp., and Thaumatotibia sp. being the most targeted genera. Many areas in SSA remain unexplored for EPNs and knowledge of their use is still experimental. There is a paucity of knowledge regarding the bacteria symbionts of indigenous EPNs in SSA, with the possibility of variations in bacterial symbionts being associated with specific ecological populations. However, promising strides have been made, and further surveys are needed to explore untapped geographies. Utilizing native EPN species holds promise in curbing the reliance on hazardous pesticides and promoting integrated pest management approaches in SSA, representing a sustainable method for pest control.