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Natural variation in host finding behaviour of gastropod parasitic nematodes (Phasmarhabditis spp.) exposed to host associated cues

Rae, R and Cutler, J (2021) Natural variation in host finding behaviour of gastropod parasitic nematodes (Phasmarhabditis spp.) exposed to host associated cues. Journal of Helminthology, 95. ISSN 0022-149X

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Abstract

The gastropod parasitic nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita has been formulated into a successful biological control agent (Nemaslug®- strain DMG0001) used to kill slugs on farms and gardens. When applied to soil P. hermaphrodita uses slug mucus and faeces to find potential hosts. However, there is little information on what cues other species of Phasmarhabditis (P. neopapillosa and P. californica) use to find hosts and whether there is natural variation in their ability to chemotax to host cues. Therefore, using chemotaxis assays we exposed 9 wild isolates of P. hermaphrodita, 5 isolates of P. neopapillosa and 3 isolates of P. californica to mucus from the pestiferous slug host Deroceras invadens as well as 1% and 5% hyaluronic acid – a component of slug mucus that is highly attractive to these nematodes. We found P. hermaphrodita (DMG0010) and P. californica (DMG0018) responded significantly more to D. invadens mucus and 1% hyaluronic acid than other strains. Also P. hermaphrodita (DMG0007), P. neopapillosa (DMG0015) and P. californica (DMG0017) were superior at locating 5% hyaluronic acid compared to other isolates of the same genera. Ultimately, there is natural variation in chemoattraction in Phasmarhabditis nematodes with some strains responding significantly better to host cues than others.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 0608 Zoology
Subjects: Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions: Biological & Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date Deposited: 23 Apr 2020 08:39
Last Modified: 12 Jan 2022 16:45
DOI or ID number: 10.1017/S0022149X20000401
URI: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/12791
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