A METHOD TO OBTAIN DISINFECTED GLOBODERA INFECTIVE JUVENILES DIRECTLYFROM CYSTS

In vitro inoculation methods are an efficient tool for the accurate st udy of the interaction between plants and parasitic nematodes. Obtaini ng disinfected nematodes is a crucial step in most of these methods. M ost disinfection protocols involve surface sterilization of hatched ju veniles, a procedure that usually leads to high mortality. This paper describes a new protocol for fast, inexpensive and easy disinfection o f nematodes of the genus Globodera, directly from cysts. Mortality is low and varies between 10 and 40 % at the most. The surface-sterilized juveniles successfully infected in vitro-grown potato roots and repro duced on them.