FUNGI INVOLVED IN CAUSING EGG CONTORTION IN HETERODERA SCHACHTII

Abstract

Diseased Heterodera schachtii eggs showing contortion symptoms were observed in 7.2 % of cyst population in the field. The present work aimed to identify fungi responsible for such symptoms.Preussia sp., and Microascus triqanosporum and a sterile fungus were isolated from cysts and cyst contents (not eggs) showing contorted eggs. Preussia sp., and the sterile fungus produced symptoms similar to egg contortion originally observed in the field. The sterile fungus was also able to attack shell of eggs containing second stage larvae of H. schachtii. Microascus triqanosporum attacked nematode eggs causing symptoms with no similarity with egg contortion. The three fungi were able to parasitize high percentage of Heterodera schachtii and Meloidogyne javanica eggs.