The life history and biology of the needle nematode, Longidorus martini Merny

I. Morphological measurements and developmental stages

Abstract

The morphology of larval stages of Longidorus martini having been reported as a vector of mulberry ring spot virus was described for the first time. The larval body contour was similar to that of the adults except for a smaller body size. Three stages of the larval development were characterized by the measurements of length of odontostyle and of replacement odontostyle, and by the location of guide ring (distance from the anterior end). Those values (μm) in each stage were indicated as follows. 1st-stage larvae; 58 (55-63), 67 (63-70), and 27 (24-30), 2nd-stage larvae; 65 (62-77), 84 (72-93), and 38 (33-42), 3rd-stage larvae; 82 (75-90), 107 (97-113), and 48 (45-52). Mulberry seedlings in pots were inoculated with 100 hand-picked females at 20-25°C, and development of larvae was examined every 1 month intervals for 6 months. The results were that newly matured adults and the 1st-stage larvae of the second generation emerged 2 months and 5 months after inoculation, respectively. The length of a life cycle, from adult to adult, appeared shorter than 4 months. Number of the nematodes recovered 6 months after inoculation was about 4.5 times.