Axenic Culture of Pelodera strongyloides Schneider

Abstract

The dioecious nematode P. strongyloides has been established in axenic culture. It has been maintained by serial subculture in films of nutrient media on agar and by continuous culture in media on glass fibers. Cultures cannot be maintained in deep media in test tubes, the adults being unable to mate without a suitable physical substrate. In axenic culture the optimal incubation temperature was 23 to 25 C; reproduction ceased at 33 C, and only dauer larvae survived 37 C.