5PM1-C-6 MicroChannel device for behavior analysis of plant-parasitic nematode : verification of channel standard and concentration distribution in channel

Abstract

We present a novel method for chemotaxis assay of plant-parasitic nematode, Meloidogyne incognita by using a PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) microchannel device. For allowing the nematodes to swim in a simple microchannel, we also developed a protocol by loading an agarose gel into microchannel with power-free pumping method. A 5-μm-wide microchannel array, which is narrower than the body width of the nematodes, can efficiently confine the nematodes in analyzed area. We numerically evaluated the chemical concentration distribution in developed microchannel and successfully related the time-dependent chemical condition to the behavior of nematodes.