LIFE CYCLE OF THE CYST FORMING NEMATODE CACTODERA TORREYANAECID DEL PRADO AND SUBBOTIN, 2014 AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS HOST SUAEDA EDULISFLORES OLV. & NOGUEZ

Abstract

The goal of this study was to examine the biology of Cactodera torreyanaeand its interaction with Suaeda edulis. Both pathogen and host are recently described organisms, but little is known about either of them, although they appear to be well-adapted to soils with a very high salinity and pH. The anatomical changes that C. torreyanaeincited in its host roots were studied. Cactodera torreyanaeinduced multinucleate syncytia to form in parenchymatous cells located in the vascular tissue of the primary phloem of the Suaeda edulisroot. The syncytia were irregular in shape and size: perimeter 0.427 - 1.748 (0.784 ± 0.43) mm; area 0.012 - 0.105 (0.032 ± 0.03) mm2. The nematode completed its life cycle in 25 days after 447-degree days, at a base temperature of 20ºC. None of the post-embryonic stages completely penetrated the host roots to complete its life cycle, so C. torreyanae can be considered to be a sedentary ecto-parasite.