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In vitro assessment of the influence of nutrition, temperature and larval density on trapping of the infective larvae of Heligmosomoides polygyrus by Arthrobotrys oligospora, Duddingtonia flagrans and Monacrosporium megalosporum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 1997

M. MORGAN
Affiliation:
Department of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
J. M. BEHNKE
Affiliation:
Department of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
J. A. LUCAS
Affiliation:
Present address: IACR-Long Ashton, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bristol, Long Ashton, Bristol, BS18 9AF, U.K. Department of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
J. F. PEBERDY
Affiliation:
Department of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

Abstract

The influence of nutrient level, temperature and larval density on the trapping of Heligmosomoides polygyrus L3 by the nematophagous fungi Arthrobotrys oligospora, Duddingtonia flagrans and Monacrosporium megalosporum were investigated by quantification of trapped nematodes. All 3 factors were found to have a significant effect on the number of larvae trapped by A. oligospora and M. megalosporum. Decreased nutrient concentrations resulted in increased trapping for these 2 fungi, but nutrient availability was not found to have a significant effect on trapping by D. flagrans. The 3 fungi were found to have similar responses to temperature, with peak trapping occurring at or near the optimum growth temperatures. Nematode trapping was found to be density dependent for all 3 fungi, with increased percentage trapping at increased larval densities. Comparison in a single experiment of the relative importance of these factors to each fungus showed that nutrient level was the main factor influencing trapping by A. oligospora, whereas D. flagrans and M. megalosporum were more dependent on larval density.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
1997 Cambridge University Press

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