Early development of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita.
BACKGROUND
Detailed descriptions of the early development of parasitic nematodes are seldom available. The embryonic development of the plant-parasitic nematode Meloidogyne incognita was studied, focusing on the early events.


RESULTS
A fixed pattern of repeated cell cleavages was observed, resulting in the appearance of the six founder cells 3 days after the first cell division. Gastrulation, characterized by the translocation of cells from the ventral side to the center of the embryo, was seen 1 day later. Approximately 10 days after the first cell division a rapidly elongating two-fold stage was reached. The fully developed second stage juvenile hatched approximately 21 days after the first cell division.


CONCLUSIONS
When compared to the development of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the development of M. incognita occurs approximately 35 times more slowly. Furthermore, M. incognita differs from C. elegans in the order of cell divisions, and the early cleavage patterns of the germ line cells. However, cytoplasmic ruffling and nuclear migration prior to the first cell division as well as the localization of microtubules are similar between C. elegans and M. incognita.
Department of Biology, College of Science and Mathematics, California State University, 2555 East San Ramon Avenue, Fresno, CA, 93740, USA. calalea@csufresno.edu.
Alejandro
A
Calderón-Urrea
Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark 927, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium.|Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium.
Bartel
B
Vanholme
Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium.
Sandra
S
Vangestel
Department of Biology, College of Science and Mathematics, California State University, 2555 East San Ramon Avenue, Fresno, CA, 93740, USA.
Saben M
SM
Kane
Instituto de Agrobiotecnologia (CSIC/UPNA/Gobierno de Navarra), Ctra. de mutilva baja, s/n 31192, Mutilva Baja, Navarra, Spain.
Abdellatif
A
Bahaji
Biochemistry, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology Graduate Group, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
Khavong
K
Pha
Department of Biology, James H. Clark Center, Stanford University, 318 Campus Drive, W200, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
Miguel
M
Garcia
IVIGEN Los Angeles, 406 Amapola Ave. Suite 215, Torrance, CA, 90501, USA.
Alyssa
A
Snider
Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Molecular Biotechnology, BW14, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium.
Godelieve
G
Gheysen
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D054262:Gastrulation; D010063:Ovum / Q000166:cytology; D010802:Phylogeny; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000469:parasitology*; D014431:Tylenchoidea / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*
D004247:DNA
4D-microscopy; Cell lineage; Nematoda; early development; embryogenesis