Aphelenchus avenae

Aphelenchus avenae is a common soil inhabiting nematode which feeds on fungi but also cases of Aphelenchus in healthy plant tissue have been recorded; as far as known they don’t damage higher plants. Aphelenchus can easily be cultivated on fungi and therefore, it is a suitable organism in experiments. A number of species have been described in the genus Aphelenchus but specialists doubt if it are good species or that A. avenae is a morphological variable species. In the Netherlands, the only specimens found are females; in southern Europe males are quite common. If we cultivate dutch material at higher temperature, also males are formed.

More pictures of Aphelenchus avenae:

Aphelenchus avenae
Aphelenchus avenae

Aphelenchus avenae
Aphelenchus avenae
Aphelenchus avenae
Aphelenchus avenae
Aphelenchus avenae: oesophagus
Aphelenchus avenae: oesophagus
Aphelenchus avenae: oesophagus
Aphelenchus avenae: oesophagus
Aphelenchus avenae: oesophagus
Aphelenchus avenae: oesophagus
 Aphelenchus avenae: stylet without knobs
Aphelenchus avenae: stylet without knobs
Aphelenchus avenae: stylet
Aphelenchus avenae: stylet
Aphelenchus avenae: median bulb and nerve ring
Aphelenchus avenae: median bulb and nerve ring
Aphelenchus avenae: dorsal overlap
Aphelenchus avenae: dorsal overlap
Aphelenchus avenae: dorsal overlap
Aphelenchus avenae: dorsal overlap
Aphelenchus avenae: vulva
Aphelenchus avenae: vulva
Aphelenchus avenae: anal opening and tail region
Aphelenchus avenae: anal opening and tail region

(Click on the pictures for an enlargement, © Wageningen University & Research, Laboratory of Nematology/Pictures: Hanny van Megen)