Dix, I. and Burnell, Ann and Griffin, Christine and Joyce, S.A. and Nugent, M.J. (1992) The identification of biological species in the genus Heterorhabditis (Nematoda : Heterorhabditidae) by cross-breeding second-generation amphimictic adults. Parasitology, 104. pp. 509-518.

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Abstract

Entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis are morphologically conservative, consequently the majority of isolates remain unassigned at the species level. When a Heterorhabditis infective juvenile infects an insect host, it develops into a protandrous hermaphrodite female. These first-generation females give rise to a second generation which contains both males and females. Because of this complex life-cycle and also because of uncertainty as to whether second-generation females are amphimictic, cross-breeding studies to facilitate species determination have not been carried out previously. We demonstrate here that second-generation Heterorhabditis females are amphimictic. Because of this finding, we have been able to develop a successful cross-breeding technique for the purposes of species determination in Heterorhabditis. Interstrain crosses using second-generation males and females from the appropriate strains have been successfully set up in Xenorhabdus luminescens-treated G. mellonella cadavers and also on agar plates. Using the techniques described here we confirm that H . bacteriophora (Brecon strain), H . megidis and H . zealandica are distinct biological species, we note that the H. bacteriophora group contains at least 2 species and we provide evidence for the existence of a new Irish species of Heterorhabditis.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Heterorhabditis; amphimictic; cross-breeding; biological species;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology
Item ID:	184
Depositing User:	Prof. Ann Burnell
Date Deposited:	26 Jan 2005
Journal or Publication Title:	Parasitology
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Refereed:	Yes
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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