Neoaplectana Carpocapsae: Respiration of Infective Juveniles

Abstract

The oxygen consumption of infective juveniles of the insect parasitic nematode Neoaplectana carpocapsae, grown at 20° or 25°, was studied at 13°, 15°, 20°, 25° and 30° and at different times after harvesting. Nematode tolerance of oxygen deprivation was also investigated. Oxygen consumption was temperature dependent and was generally higher in infectives that developed at 20° (Q10~ 6.3; 18 mm3/mg/h, 30°) than those that developed at 25° (Q10~ 3.6; 12 mm3/mg/h, 30°). Respiration rates of nematodes incubated in buffer solution after harvesting decreased approximately 65% during the first 7 hours, then remained constant during the next 2 days. Infective nematodes survived 43 days with O2 only 0.5% of saturation at 20°.