Division of Nematology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012.
The investigation was cerried out by the author as Post-Doctoral Fellow (1984–85) at the Division of Nematology, University of California, Riverside, CA, funded by Govt. of India, Ministry of Home Affairs (PCR) Cell. The author is indebted to Dr. James G. Baldwin for providing laboratory facilities.
Transmission electron microscopic studies revealed that phasmids of larvae of Meloidodera floridensis (female) include ampulla, duct, receptor cavity, dendrite receptors, tight junction, socket and sheath cells. The ampulla is continuous with a duct surrounded by the socket cells. It then enters the receptor cavity and the tight junction surrounded by the sheath cells. Both the socket and sheath cells are secretory glands. The dendrite receptor originates from the neuron that enters the tight junction, receptor cavity ending near the ampulla. The plasmalemma of the sheath cells surrounds the receptor cel1s and creates the tight junction. The microtubule in M. f1oridensis deviates from the 9 + 2 arrangement of animal parasites and the saucer shaped ampulla is typical of phasmidian nematodes, in which it is reported to be cup shaped.
ampulla, pbasmid, receptor cavity, dendrite receptor, socket cell, sbeatb cell ultrastructure, Meloidodera f1oridensis
