Microcoleus vaginatus (Oscillatoriaceae), A blue-green alga (or cyanobacterium) parasitising plant and soil nematodes

Parasitisation of the plant and soil nematodes by a blue-green alga Microcoleus vaginatus (Vaucher) Gomont was studied. Endosporcs produced by the alga swarmed around the animal and entered into its body. Consequently a pable yellow or purple coloured oil-like substance accumulated in the pseudocoelomic region and the nematode started ‘bleeding’ releasing the fluid to the surrounding area. The fluid contained numerous purple coloured refractive globules which in turn gave rise to the endospores. The nematode died as a result of alga attack and a fresh colony of the alga developed inside its body. The laboratoy cultured endospores were successfully tried against several nematode species. The endospores were dried and preserved for future use. Besides controlling nematode, the algal filaments enriched the soil by fixing nitrogen.