Post-embryonic growth of longidorid nematodes

Abstract

AbstractTo investigate changes in body size of Longidoridae during growth, we used published dimensions of stages to calculate volumes of the juvenile and adult stages of 33 species. A consistent increase in body volume between the juvenile stages was found with proportionally more growth occurring between the smaller stages. In species where three, rather than four, juvenile stages are present, the ultimate size of adults was correspondingly smaller. In the Heteroderidae, greatest growth occurs in later stages and this indicates different adaptations to plant parasitism. Analysis of further groups of free-living and parasitic nematodes is required to increase understanding of body growth and life histories, both within and between families.