TABLE CONTENTS

Infection of Brachiaria brizantha Seeds by Aphelenchoides Species, Efficacy
of Irradiation and Chemical Treatment for Nematode Control
Favoreto, L. (1), J.M. Santos (2) & S.A. Calzavara (3)
(1) Graduate Student (Doctorate) of Agricultural Entomology Program (CNPq Scholarship), (2) Assistant
Professor, (3) Post-Doctorate Program (FAPESP Scholarship). UNESP-FCAV, Plant Protection Department,
Jaboticabal Campus; São Paulo State Brazil
With the objective of studying the infection processing of Brachiaria brizantha seeds by
Aphelenchoides species, efficacy of irradiation and chemical treatment for nematode control,
five experiments were carried at and laboratory and field conditions. To test the efficacy of
chemical treatment, 1 kg of infected seeds containing 1,350 Aphelenchoides spp. by 10 g of
seeds were treated with Abamectin at the doses of 6.0; 3.0 and 1.5 mL, Imidacloprid 12.0; 6.0
and 3.0 mL, Clotianidina 12.0; 6.0 and 3.0 mL, Tiodicarbe 30.0; 15.0 and 7.5 mL,
Imidacloprid + Tiodicarbe 48.0; 24.0 and 12.0 mL and Carbofuran 50.0; 25.0 and 12.5 mL.
Untreated seeds were used as controls. The experiment was carried out in the field, in
Presidente Prudente County, SP and Tupaciguara, MG and in a greenhouse at UNESP
Campus, in Jaboticabal. The seed irradiation was done using different doses of gamma-ray: 0;
500; 1000; 1500 e 2000 Gy, from 60 Co source at Agricultural Nuclear Energy Center, in
Piracicaba, SP. Samples of 160 g of Brachiaria brizantha seeds were properly kept in regular
paper bags and irradiated at the rate of 186.8 Gy/h. In another experiment, 10 g of Brachiaria
brizantha seeds free from nematodes were placed on wet sand in gerbox and 10mL of a
nematode suspension containing 300 specimens/mL was added. All the treatments used in
this study had no efficacy for nematode control. Also, it was observed that the nematodes
infect the seeds after they fall to the ground.
Nematode Galls on a Tiny Moss
Jolley, H. (1,2) & M. Hodda (3)
(1) School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3109 (2) Royal Botanic Gardens
Melbourne, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, Victoria, 3141; (3)Nematode Biosystematics & Ecology, CSIRO
Entomology, GPO Box1700, Canberra, ACT 2601 Australia
The minute Australian endemic moss Stonea oleaginosa was discovered by accident in 1969.
It grows in semi-arid and arid areas of salt bush and mallee country across Southern
Australia. In the original species description, it was reported that plants were found with
abnormally elongated stems; this was attributed to infection by nematodes. Whilst examining
recently collected specimens of S. oleaginosa, galls which resembled moss capsules were
found in the apex of the plants which contained nematodes. Preliminary investigations
indicate that the nematodes are an undescribed species of Nothanguina. The nematode galls
are usually surrounded by female reproductive structures (archegonia), and it is postulated
that the nematodes are modifying the archegonia and inhibiting fertilisation from occurring.
Further research is required to obtain a comprehensive description of the nematodes, and a
thorough understanding of their association with the biology of the moss. The relationship
raises interesting questions regarding the evolutionary origins of the moss, as well as the
origin and nature of the parasitic habit in the nematode family Anguinidae.
5 th International Congress of Nematology, 2008 215