title: Preferred Temperature of Meloidogyne incognita.
abstract: In laboratory thermal gradients, newly hatched infective juveniles of the plant-parasitic root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita migrated toward a preferred temperature that was several degrees above the temperature to which they were acclimated. After shifting egg masses to a new temperature, the preferred temperature was reset in less than a day. Possible functions of this type of thermotaxis are discussed, including the use of thermal gradients around plant roots to locate hosts and to maintain a relatively straight path while ranging in the absence of other cues (a collimating stimulus).
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Diez
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Dusenbery