PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE FEMALE SEX-PHEROMONE OF HETERODERA-SCHACHTII (NEMATODA, HETERODERIDAE)

Several physico-chemical properties of the female sex pheromone of the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii were elucidated. At least one component of the pheromone can be extracted from aqueous solutions wi th diethyl ether. However, the pheromone has a higher solubility in wa ter, as most of the pheromone activity remained in the water fraction. Ion exchange chromatography revealed that the pheromone or at least o ne of its components is positively charged, whereas another pheromone component may be negatively charged. Fractional distillation of pherom one extracts showed that it is, indeed, composed of at least two compo nents. These components may interact additively rather than synergisti cally. (C) 1998 Australian Society for Parasitology. Published by Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.