FEEDING AND REPRODUCTION OF XIPHINEMA INDEX (NEMATODA: DORYLAIMIDA) ON TWO HOSTS AT THREE TEMPERATURES

Abstract

In a laboratory study about one third of individual female Xiphinema index from a southern Italy population fed but did not reproduce on Lycopersicon esculentum or Ficus carica at 10ºC. Most nematodes fed on these hosts at 13ºC and two of 14 females reproduced on F. carica. All nematodes fed on both host plant species at 23ºC and X. index completed its life cycle in less than 12 weeks on F. carica. At 23ºC only two females reproduced on L. esculentum and they produced relatively few J1 and J2. In southern Italy X. index may feed on host plants at 10ºC but the minimum daily threshold temperature for reproduction is 13ºC.