Behavior of Tethered Meloidogyne incognita

Authors

  • Marian Goode
  • David B. Dusenbery

Abstract

The tethered-nematode technique was adapted for use with second-stage juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita. The data demonstrate that M. incognita exhibits the same patterns of behavior as adults of the free-living nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. The principal differences are that M. incognita is slower and less regular in its behavior than C. elegans. The frequency of normal waves is about 0.2 Hz; that of reversal waves is about 0.06 Hz. Reversal bouts last about 1 minute. In response to a change in NaC1 concentration, M. incognita modulates the probability of initiating a reversal bout in the same manner as C. elegans except that it responds more slowly and is repelled instead of attracted. Key words: chemotaxis, NaCl, root-knot nematode, nematode movement, nematode response.

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Published

1985-10-15

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Section

Articles