Feeding Behaviour of Myceliophagous Nematode, Ditylenchus myceliophagus Goodey on Button Mushroom, Agaricus bisporus (Lange.) Singer

Feeding of Ditylenchus myceliophagus on button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus (Lange.) Singer, consisted of exploration, penetration of stylet, injection of dorsal oesophageal gland secretions, ingestion of hyphal contents and stylet withdrawal phases. Nematode preferred mycelium and generally fed near septum. Soon after stylet penetration, dorsal oesophageal gland nucleus became active and produced dorsal oesophageal gland secretions that accumulated at the ampulla. Pulsation/twitching of median bulb, movement of basal bulb, anterior region of intestine and tail during feeding assisted in injection of dorsal oesophageal gland secretions into the host cell as well as ingestion of cell contents. Several cycles of extracorporeal digestions and ingestion occuring each feed. Before cessation of feeding, the median bulb pulsated rapidly for 4–5 minutes and nematode withdrew its stylet with slight twitching of lip region. Feeding in a particular cell might continue for two to five and a half hours. There was no shrinkage of the fed host cell.