Distribution of Carbohydrates On the Cuticle of Several Developmental Stages of Meloidogyne Javanica

Abstract

The distribution of carbohydrates on the surface of developmental stages of Meloidogyne javanica was examined using FITC-labelled lectins. The entire surface of the female cuticle bound Concanavalin A (Con A) strongly and, to a lesser degree, the other lectins, suggesting the presence of mannose/glucose, N-acetyl-glucosamine, D-galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine residues. Some lectins bound to specific regions of the nematode. Con A bound to all the stages tested indicating the predominance of mannose/glucose sugars on M. javanica. Second stage juveniles (J2) which had just emerged from roots exhibited a higher affinity to Con A than J2s which had just hatched, while older hatched J2s exhibited a greater affinity for Con A, and a lower affinity to wheat germ (WGA), Tetragonolobus purpureus agglutinin (TPA), Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA) and Vicia aillosa agglutinin (VVA). Percentage fluorescence intensity was determined for all stages tested. Galactose, and N-acetylgalactosamine were also present on the gelatinous matrix and eggshells. This was confirmed by the RCA, Phaseolus limensis agglutinin (PLA) and VVA binding and was tested against sugar specificity.