ULTRASTRUCTURAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE BODY CUTICLE OF FOUR SPECIES OF TYLENCHIDAE ÖERLEY, 1880 (NEMATA: TYLENCHIDA)

Abstract

The fine structure of the body cuticle of Cephalenchus emarginatus, C. lobus, Cbslenchus franklinae and Filenchus sp. is described from ultrathin sections. There are two major zones, a cortical zone and a basal zone. The cortical zone consists of external and internal layers; the external layer is trilaminate in all species except in C. franklinae where it appears multilayered; the internal layer is granular and consists of alternate striated and non-striated sublayers except in C. franklinae; longitudinal ridges in this species result from a thickening of the internal cortlical layer. The basal zone consists of a striated layer never exceeding 30% of total cuticle thickness. These observations on the cuticle of Tylenchidae reveal a more simple structure than that found in previous studies of other families of the Tylenchina.