Abstract
Free-living soil nematodes have successfully adapted world-wide to nearly all soil types from the highest to the lowest of elevations. In the current study, nematodes were isolated from soil samples and fungi associated with these free-living soil nematodes were determined. Large subunit (LSU) rDNAs of nematode-associated fungi were amplified and sequenced to construct phylogenetic trees. Nematode-associated fungi were observed in six nematode strains belonging to Acrobeloides, Steinernema and Cephalobus genera in different habitats. Malassezia and Cladosporium fungal strains indicated an association with Acrobeloides and Cephalobus nematodes, while Alternaria strains demonstrated an association with the Steinernema strain. Interactions between fungi and free-living nematodes in soil are discussed. We suggest that nematodes act as vectors for fungi.
Highlights
Nematodes are the most common, abundant and genetically diverse metazoans found in many habitats, soils and sediments, even in the most extreme environments (Baldwin et al, 1999; Derycke et al, 2008)
Free-living soil nematodes have entomopathogenic forms (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae), which are used as excellent biocontrol agents for many insect pests (Grewal et al, 2005)
Nematode-associated fungi were determined in six nematode strains belonging to Acrobeloides, Steinernema and Cephalobus genera from different habitats in temperate regions of Turkey
Summary
Nematodes are the most common, abundant and genetically diverse metazoans found in many habitats, soils and sediments, even in the most extreme environments (Baldwin et al, 1999; Derycke et al, 2008). The free-living soil nematodes play an important role in the nutrient cycling in terms of food web enrichment, environmental perturbation, and recovery (Ferris et al, 1997; Yeates and Wardle, 1996; Wang et al, 2004). They contribute to environmental pollution and soil quality studies as bioindicators (Levi et al, 2012). Nematode-fungi relationships were reported by some researchers (Renker et al, 2003; Adam et al, 2014)
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