Proteins and enzyme activity of Meloidogyne incognita under moisture stress condition

The moisture stressed second stage juvenile (J2) within brown egg-masses of Meloidogyne incognita had six polypeptides with molecular weights of 36, 48, 55, 62, 63 and 67K while in the case of adult and fresh J₂ there were only three and two polypeptides with molecular weights of 36, 55 and 94K and 67K, respectively. The relative concentration were also higher in case of moisture stress J₂ than the fresh J₂ and adult nematdes. The polypeptides with molecular weight of 48.62 and 63 K recorded from moisture stress J₂ apparently disappeared in fresh J₂ and adult nematodes and were judged to be the moisture stress induced polypeptides. A slow moving new polypeptide with molecular weight of 94K recorded in fresh J₂ as apparently lacking in other two stages. The metabolic activity in moisture stress nematodes was reduced considerably as evident on the basis of lower titre of key enzyme of TCA cycle. Comparative studies onnon-specific esterase showed increased activity of enzyme in frish J2 as compared to desiccated J₂.