USE OF STAINS FOR NEMATODE VIABILITY IN ASSESSING FUNGAL PARASITISM OF CYST NEMATODES

Abstract

Stains were used to distinguish live and dead Heterodera avenae eggs exposed to nematophagous fungi in cereal fields in eastern Scotland. Result indicated that although New Blue "R" could detect the dead eggs it could not be effectively substituted for egg plating techniques and that fluorescent stains should be used to differentiate eggs killed by fungi.