Mass Culturing of Mycetophagous Nematode Aphelenchus avenae (Nematoda: Aphelenchidae) in vitro System by Feeding on Pathogenic Fungus.

The production phenomenon of fungal feeding nematode Aphelenchus avenae have been thoroughly examined in vitro system by ensuring Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). Two fungal species Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger were examined for their aptitude to assist the population rate of the said species. Nematodes were collected from soil around the rhizospheres of sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrical L.) field in the vicinity of National Nematological Research Centre, University of Karachi and further processed by Cobb's sieving and Baermann's funnel techniques. Specimens were killed, fixed and identified up to species level under light microscope. Afterward, hundred fresh handpicked nematodes were inoculated on both fully grown fungal species at 25°C. The nematode attraction and mass culture were appeared on Fusarium oxysporum only. On the first week, propagation rate was noted approximately 2.5x10? followed by 3.9x10? on the second week and finely after three weeks incubation period the greatest multiplication rate estimated up to 8.9x10?; however, the same did not appeared on Aspergillus niger and result was found negative. The main purpose of captioned study was to report mass culturing of parasitic Aphelenchus avenae and their relationship and further explore these nematodes under field circumstances to control many pathogenic soil-borne fungi because this is the first study conducted on the subject experiment in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]