MadSci Network: Zoology
Query:

Re: A few questions about plant nematodes...

Date: Thu Nov 4 10:53:27 1999
Posted By: Tinsley Davis, Grad student, Microbiology, University of Wisconsin Madison
Area of science: Zoology
ID: 940773110.Zo
Message:

Dear Lisa,
It's great that you're interested in pursuing a science fair project and are exploring your own unique ideas. I'll help you learn more about nematodes and offer some websites that will give you information to use in designing your project.
Nematodes are a unique kind of worm and are characterized by the structure of their body. An excellent website on nematodes hosted by the University of Nebraska Lincoln describes the body structure as a "tube- within-a- tube" because the digestive tract is a long tube from the mouth to anterior end surrounded by a tubular body. Most nematodes are fairly small and are measured in millimeters, but one parasitic nematode found in a whale was measured at 8 meters long!
The soil is full of nematodes, some live symbiotically with plants and other creatures while others cause disease. Nematodes can indeed be parasitic to animals, plants, and even insects. Humans and dogs suffer from nematode infections caused by specific species of these roundworms. Serious plant disease is also caused by certain species of nematodes (See http:// ianrwww.unl.edu/ianr/plntpath/nematode/nemaquar/ nemaquar.htm).
I don't know what specific plant nematodes you plan to study so I'll suggest several ways to go about acquiring nematodes. Carolina Biological Supply sells several species, some of which may associate with plants, and even kits to grow them. Check the catalogue descriptions to choose the species that best suits your project.
If you'd like, you can even harvest your own nematodes following this simple procedure from the USDA (http://www.ars-grin.gov:80/ars/Beltsville/ barc/psi/nem/soil-ext.htm). Keeping in mind that certain nematodes infect dogs, you'll want to collect soil shaken from plant roots away from areas where dogs and wild animals are. This should reduce the chances of collecting nematodes that infect animals.
Which brings me to your question about disposal of the nematodes. Regardless of how you collect your nematodes, you'll want to take a few simple precautions. Remember that dirt is not very sanitary, so always wash your hands and don't work in areas where food preparation also takes place (like the kitchen!). Also, clean up after yourself by wiping surfaces with a disinfectant. To dispose of nematodes you've bought or collected, you can add bleach (about 20%) to the water and let it sit overnight before sending it down the drain.
Good luck with your project!
-Tinsley


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