Gak-Jung Lee 1, Chang-Duck Koo 1* and Joo Han Sung 2
1Department of Forest Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk 361-763, Korea
2Department of Forest Environment, Korea Forest Research Institute, Seoul 130-712, Korea
Correspondence to koocdm@chungbuk.ac.kr
Korean Journal of Mycology (Kor J Mycol) December 31, 2008, 36(2):153-162.
https://doi.org/10.4489/kjm.2008.36.2.153
(Received April 3, 2008. Accepted August 3, 2008)
Published: December 31, 2008.
© The Korean Society of Mycology
Pinewood nematode (PWN) trapping by nematophagous fungi, Arthrobotrys conoides, A. dactyloides and A. oligospora and the fungal growth were characterized. The three Arthrobotrys species each was inoculated into the PWN cultured on Botrytis cinera fungal colony on potato dextrose agar (PDA). The effects of temperature, pH, PWN inoculation density and nutrients on the growth of the three Arthrobotrys spp were measured. A. conoides grew fast, 13.9 mm/day while A. dactyloides grew slow, 3 mm/day. PDA medium was the best for the fungal growth at 25 oC and pH 4.5. The Arthrobotrys spp growth was stimulated by 500 nematodes inoculation but not by 1000 inoculation. A. dactyloides did not grow below pH 4.5 and at high PWN density. A. conoides and A oligospora formed trapping organs with thick constricting hyphal network only when PWN present, while A. dactyloides formed the organ with circular hyphae constitutively. A. conoides formed trapping organs faster than A. oligospora did. The nematode trapping hyphae of the fungi penetrated into PNW inside to form many tiny infection bulbs and to digest the nematode. However, A. dactyloides formed a few trapping organs but no trapping was observed. Infection rate of PWN was 95% by A. conoides, 80% by A. oligospora and 92% by the combination inoculation of A. conoides and A. oligospora. In contrast A. dactyloides increased PWN density without infecton. There was no interaction effect in any combination inoculation of the three Arthrobotrys spp. A. conoides enhanced PWN infection rate by rapid hyphal growth and early trapping, while A. oligospora did it by increasing hyphal density. In conclusion A. conoides is the most effective in both hyphal growth and infection, and thus these characteristics can be utilized as a biological control of PWN.
Arthrobotrys conoides, A. dactyloides, A. oligospora, Nematode trapping fungi, Pinewood nematode (PWN)