Improved Culturing Technique for Aphelenchoides Besseyi by Inducing Anhydrobiosis

An efficient and quick method for laboratory culturing of Aphelenchoides besseyi on Alternaria alternata is described. Different larval and adult stages of nematode in an anhydrobiotic condition on filter paper pieces were used as source of inoculum. Dehydration studies showed that moderate humid conditions (where the rate of dehydration was slow) enabled all stages of A. besseyi to undergo anhydrobiosis. The number of anhydrobiotic nematodes which could be revived later on was found to be inversely proportional to the rate of drying.