Abstract
The growth curve and egg-laying of parthenogenetic females of Rotylenchulus reniformis on potted tomato plants in the glasshouse were examined. Compared to the size of inoculation, female body size was slightly reduced during the two to four day period after inoculation. Growth of the total body length and width at the vulval region occurred in a stepwise fashion. The mean cross sectional area of the female body (immature) before inoculation was 2, 973μm2 and increased in the typical sigmoid curve to reach a maximum of about 21, 500μm2 on the 28th day. The average body length and width were 368μm and 15.5μm before inoculation, and 500μm and 114μm at the end of growth, respectively. The first secretion of a gelatinous matrix occurred on the 12th day and egglaying started on the 14th day. The number of eggs per egg-mass rapidly increased and attained a maximum of 57 eggs on the 30th day. Empty egg-shells were first observed 8 day after the onset of egg-laying.
