NEMATOLOGY 100

Laboratory Exercise 9

Rev. 01/01/2020

Purpose:  Migratory endoparasitic nematodes:  morphology, anatomy, biology, feeding habits -- Pratylenchidae (Tylenchina, Tylenchoidea)

     1.  Powerpoint presentation and slides of characteristics.

     2.   Hand-pick live adults of the specimens of  Pratylenchus penetrans or P. vulnus, Hirschmanniella pomponiensis and preserved specimens of Radopholus similis provided. 

Draw the nematodes, observing the following characteristic features:

          a)   stylet length and morphology.
          b)   esophagus, type and anatomy, nature of postcorpus interface with intestine.
          c)   male and female reproductive structures.
          d)   general shape when heat-relaxed.

     3.   Note the taxonomic position of these nematodes in the suborder Tylenchina.

     4.   Examine descriptive charts of these plant-parasitic nematodes in the Pratylenchidae, especially those of Pratylenchus, Radopholus and Hirschmanniella.

     5.      Videotapes:
          a) The Burrowing Nematode
          b) Nematode predation and ingestion by Labronema species (Dorylaimida) and Mononchus aquaticus (Mononchida).

     7.  Study photographs of characteristics and damage by migratory endoparasites: Radopholus and Hirschmanniella

     8.  Lab Project extractions should be started, analyses will be performed in next two lab periods.  You can work here or in the Ferris Lab (265 Robbins Hall)

          Please see details on Lab Exercise 10 outline.

• Count the nematodes that you extracted from your soil samples.
• Divide the suspension in half, save one half for future lab periods and centrifuge the other half. 
• Siphon off the supernatant and resuspend the pellet in the small volume of water remaining. 
• Place suspension on a microscope slide, immobilize nematodes with gentle heat, apply coverslip and seal. 
• Categorize 100 nematodes into trophic guilds per lab handouts and instruction.
• Record data on sheet provided.

          Analysis software is available in Nemaplex:

          Main Menu

                Select: Nematode Management

                Select: Nematode Management Utilities

                Select Nematodes as Bioindicators 

                Select: Nematode Faunal Analyzer

                            That will take you to an Excel Spreadsheet entitled Nematode Faunal Analyzeryzer. Follow the instructions. 

     9.  As a practice, use the provided extractions from soil samples.to report on your assessment of the functional status of the soil food web suggested

          by their nematode assemblages.

   10.   Homework Assignment:

          NEMAPLEX Exercise
          Main Menu:
               Select...Biology and Taxonomy
                Select..Phylogenetic Classification
                 Select...Rhabditida then Tylenchina
               Select...Pratylenchidae
                           Review Pratylenchus including some of the species.
                           Review Radopholus including R. similis.
                           Review Hirschmanniella including H. oryzae and H. belli.
            Return to Main Menu
            

      11.  NEMABASE Exercise
       

         Review the host range of nematodes in the genera Radopholus, then Hirschmanniella, Hoplolaimus and Scutellonema.  What are the indicated non-hosts?  Are there resistant cultivars available?
          From the Nemaplex main Menu, select Management and Decision Support, then Nemabase 2012.

         Alternatively, you can access the data from the descriptive page for each nematode. 

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