Screening of mushrooms for nematophagous activity against the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilu s

Abstract

The nematophagous activities of mushrooms were evaluated on water agar plates. Five species of saprophytic mushroom including Cyptotrama asprata, Resupinatus applicatus, Panellus stipticas, Hohenbuehelia reniformes and Pleurotus salmoneostramineus showed the ability to immobilize and consume the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. We further investigated the nematode-trapping ability of the most effective nematode scavenger, P. salmoneostramineus. Nematode-trapping structures with abundant toxin droplets were observed on the surface of the mycelia, and more than half of the inoculated nematodes were immobilized by this strain within 24 h. The nematophagous activity of this strain was greater than that of the well-known nematophagous species, P. ostreatus.