The effect of sonicating Pasteuria penetrans spores on their infection in root-knot nematode Meloidogyne spp. (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae)

Abstract

The effect of sonicating Pasteuria penetrans spores on their infection in the root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne spp. was investigated using P. penetrans isolates MAP from M. arenaria and MHP from M. hapla. The spores of MAP and MHP taken from adult females were suspended in sterile water, and stored for two months at 5°C. Then, the spores were sonicated for 5, 15, and 30 min. The infection rates of sonicated MAP and MHP spores in females were 2.0-2.3 times and 1.5-3.0 times as high as the respective non-sonicated treatments. After sonication, the infectivity to Meloidogyne females for both MAP and MHP spores was remarkably enhanced.