Ultrastructure of the anterior alimentary tract of Bursaphelenchus mucronatus Mamiya et Enda (Nematoda Aphelenchoididae)
Authors
Beatrice Carletti
Consiglio per la ricerca e la sperimentazione in agricoltura - Research Centre for Agrobiology and Pedology, via Lanciola 12/A, 50125 Firenze
Francesco Paoli
Consiglio per la ricerca e la sperimentazione in agricoltura - Research Centre for Agrobiology and Pedology, via Lanciola 12/A, 50125 Firenze
Nunzio Isidoro
Consiglio per la ricerca e la sperimentazione in agricoltura - Research Centre for Agrobiology and Pedology, via Lanciola 12/A, 50125 Firenze
Pio Federico Roversi
Consiglio per la ricerca e la sperimentazione in agricoltura - Research Centre for Agrobiology and Pedology, via Lanciola 12/A, 50125 Firenze
In view of the phytosanitary importance of nematodes of the genus Bursaphelenchus and the limited information available on their ultrastructure, we carried out a study of the buccal cavity and oesophageal area of Bursaphelenchus mucronatus Mamiya et Enda, 1979. Like the quarantine species Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Bührer) Nickle, its development takes place in the resin canals of conifers. The specimens used in our study were taken from a laboratory population collected on Pinus pinaster Aiton in meso-thermophilic mixed forests of central Italy (Tuscany) and grown on Petri dishes in a climatic chamber for 20 generations. The ultrastructural features of the mouth opening, anterior intestine, labial sensilla, amphidial canals, stylet and metacorpus were investigated with a TEM. The oesophageal glands are also described. The observed structures are discussed and compared with those described for other nematodes.
