Rev 01/16/2023
Synoinyms:
Nothanguina phyllobia Thorne, 1934
Orrina phyllobia (Thorne, 1934) Brzeski, 1981
Reported median body size for this species (Length mm; width micrometers; weight micrograms) - Click:
D-rated in California.
Feeds in galls on leaf and petile tissues/
Silver leaf nightshade (Solanum slaeagnifolium) in panhandle of Texas and South Africa.
Has been suggested as a biocontrol agent of silverleaf ninghtshade in Australia (Field et al., 2009) and tested extensively in Texas (Northam and Orr, 1982; Robinson et al., 1978).
Infective juveniles (J4) enter apical meristems of actively growing host plants (Orr 1980); they develop into adults withoin a week. The infection results in hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the pallisade, pith, cortical and vascular parenchyma and the formation of leaf, petiole and stem galls (Field et al., 2009; Skinner et al. 1980).
Nematode reproduction occurs over six to eight weeks with tens of thousands of nematodes being produced in galls that range from 3 up to 25 cm3 (Skinner et al. 1980). Mature galls contain mainly J4 juveniles which are resistant to desiccation (Robinson 1985).
Infection of meristematic areas requires the presence of a moisture film to enable rehydration of anhydrobiotic nematodes, under dry conditions, J4 juveniles can survive apparently indefinitely in the state of anhydrobiosis (Orr 1980) and large numbers of dried viable juveniles are often found in the upper few centimetres of soil in Texas (Robinson et al. 1978).
Ecophysiological Parameters:
Causes galling on leaves of host plants and decreases their competitive fitness.
Host Plant Resistance, Non-hosts and Crop Rotation alternatives:
Field, R.P., Kwong, R., Sagliocvco, J.L. 2009. Host specificity of Ditylenchus phyllobius, a potential biological control agent of silver-leaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav.) in Australia. Plant Protection Quarterly 24:141-145.
Northam, F.C. and Orr, C.C. 1982. Effects of a nematode on biomass and density of silverleaf nightshade. Journal of Rangeland Management 35:536-537.
Orr, C.C. 1980. Nothanguina phyllobia, a nematode biocontrol of silverleaf nightshade. Proc. 5th International Symp.Biological Control of Weeds, Brisbane, Australia, 389-391.
Robinson, A.F. 1985. Observations of molting and population development by Orrina phyllobia. Journal of Nematology 17:239-241.
Robinson, A.F., Orr, C.C. and Abernathy, J.R. 1978. Distribution of Nothanguina phyllobia and its potential as a biological control agent of silver-leaf nightshade. Journal of Nematology 10:362-366.
Skinner, J.A., Orr, C.C. and Robinson, A.F. 1980. Histopathogensis of the gall induced by Nothanguina phyllobia in Solanum elaeagnifolium. Journal of Nematology 12:141-150.