Dactylaria Brochopaga Research Articles

Predatory activity of nematode trapping fungi against the larvae of Trichostrongylus axei and Ostertagia ostertagi: a possible method of biological control.

Growth rate and activity of 10 nematode trapping fungi, (Hyphomycetes)—Arthrobotrys oligospora, Dactylaria brochopaga, D. gamsospora, D. polycephala, D. thaumasia, D. vermicola, Monacrosporium (Dactylella) bembicodes, M. {D.) cionopaga, M. {D.) ellipsospora, Trichothecium cystosporium—against the infective larvae ofOstertagia ostertagiandTrichostrongylus axeiwere studied. Species forming adhesive networks grew faster than the others. Species producing adhesive knobs, adhesive branches and constricting rings were, in general, slow growers.

RELATION OF SOME ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS TO GROWTH OF SEVERAL NEMATOPHAGOUS HYPHOMYCETES

In vitro growth studies showed that Arthrobotrys oligospora Fresenius, A. conoides Drechsler, A. musiformis Drechsler, and A. robusta Duddington are characterized by a fast, inherent growth rate relative to A. dactyloides Drechsler, Dactylella gephyropaga Drechsler, and Dactylaria brochopaga Drechsler, which grew slowly on all media tested. Arthrobotrys superba Corda, Dactylella ellipsospora Grove, and D. asthenopaga Drechsler were found to be intermediate in this respect. There was little correlation between the maximum rate of increase in colony diameter of the 10 species of nematophagous Hyphomycetes and their ecological requirements for such growth. The fast-growing species appeared to prefer media with a pH range of 5.0–6.0 and the slow-growing fungi a pH of about 4.0. No consistent similarity in environmental requirements was found among species of fungi belonging to the same genus or between those possessing the same kind of nematode-trapping organ. Lima bean agar of pH 5.0 was a satisfactory culture medium and incubation at 25 °C in continuous or intermittent light resulted in larger colonies than incubation in darkness.