A Centrifugation Method for Attaching Endospores of Pasteuria spp. to Nematodes

Attachment of relatively low numbers of endospores from two isolates of Pasteuria spp. to several species of nematodes was consistently achieved in 2-5 minutes with a centrifugation technique. The rate of attachment of Pasteuria penetrans at 10 endospores/0.1 ml/tube to second-stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne javanica, M. incognita race 1, M. incognita race 3, and M. arenaria races 1 and 2 in two tests averaged 4.4, 5.2, 0.1, 0.3, and 0 endospores per J2, respectively. The rate of attachment Pasteuria sp. at 10(3) endospores/0.1 ml/tube to individuals of Hoplolaimus galeatus, Belonolaimus longicaudatus, M. arenaria race 1, M. javanica, and M. incognita race 1 in two tests averaged 0.8, 0.04, 0, 0, and 0 endospores per nematode, respectively. The rate of attachment of P. penetrans to M. javanica at 10(3), 10, or 10 endospores/0.1 ml/tube from two tests averaged 1.0, 5.7, and 28.3 endospores per J2, respectively. All of the J2 had endospores attached following centrifugation in tubes with 10 and 10 endospores/0.1 ml/tube.