Admin Table of Contents
How do nematodes develop?
Reproduction. Nematodes have well-developed reproductive systems that distinguish them as female and male nematodes. The females lay eggs, usually after fertilization by males but in some cases without fertilization. Nematode eggs hatch into juveniles that resemble the adult nematodes but are smaller.
What caused nematodes?
The spread of nematodes from field to field usually involves farm equipment, contaminated plants or seeds, soil or mud transferred on the feet of people or animals, or surface water movement. Various nematodes feed on all plant parts: roots, stems, leaves, flowers and seeds.
How does the infection of plant nematodes occur?
Parasitic nematodes are readily spread by any physical means that can move soil particles about—equipment, tools, shoes, birds, insects, dust, wind and water. In addition, the movement of nematode-infested plants or plant parts will spread the parasites.
Where do nematodes grow?
soil
Nematodes are microscopic, wormlike organisms (Fig. 1) that live in water films and water-filled pore spaces in the soil. Typically, they are most abundant in the upper soil layers where organic matter, plant roots, and other resources are most abundant.
How do nematodes feed?
Fungal-feeders feed by puncturing the cell wall of fungi and sucking out the internal contents. Predatory nematodes eat all types of nematodes and protozoa. They eat smaller organisms whole, or attach themselves to the cuticle of larger nematodes, scraping away until the prey’s internal body parts can be extracted.
What are nematodes pests?
Nematodes are microscopic roundworms that live in many habitats. At least 2 500 species of plant-parasitic nematodes have been described, characterized by the presence of a stylet, which is used for penetration of host plant tissue.
What are diseases caused by nematodes?
Nematode infections in humans include ascariasis, trichuriasis, hookworm, enterobiasis, strongyloidiasis, filariasis, trichinosis, dirofilariasis, and angiostrongyliasis (rat lungworm disease), among others.
How do nematodes feed on plants?
Plant parasitic nematodes feed on living plant tissues, using an oral stylet, a spearing device somewhat like a hypodermic needle, to puncture host cells. Many, probably all, plant nematodes inject enzymes into a host cell before feeding to partially digest the cell contents before they are sucked into the gut.