FACULTY OF SCIENCES Factors that determine the effectiveness of entomopathogenic nematodes in combination with other beneficial soil organisms to control root herbivores Xavier Chiriboga M. 1 2 3 4 Thesis Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Neuchatel by Xavier Chiriboga M. for the Degree of Doctor in Natural Sciences on the 26th October 2017 5 6 Thesis Committee Thesis Director: Prof. Ted C.J. Turlings, University of Neuchatel, CH Co-Supervisor: Dr. Raquel Campos-Herrera, University of Algarve- MeditBio, POR Other Members of the Committee: Dr. Sergio Rasmann, University of Neuchatel, CH Dr. Monika Maurhofer, ETH Zurich, CH This thesis was conducted under the Doctoral School of Interorganismal Biology, Institute of Biology-University of Neuchatel 7 8 To the memory of grandmom Beatriz (2009†) and grandad Pedro (2015†) 9