Reproduction and Development ofAphelenchoides Besseyi

The mode of reproduction of the Indian population ofAphelenchoides besseyi was studied under different temperatures and on different fungal species used for culturing the nematode. Although parthenogenetic reproduction in this species was recorded on all the fungi tested, the influence of the different fungal species on development and population buildup varied. There was a significant increase in nematode fecundity when one or two males were placed along with single females in the medium, as compared with when no male was introduced. Increasing the number of males further to eight depressed fecundity as compared with the treatment with two males.