Electrophysiological responses of males of the potato cyst nematodes,Globodera rostochiensisandG. pallida, to their sex pheromones

Abstract

SummaryThe response of individual adult males of the potato cyst nematodes,Globodera rostochiensisandG. pallida, to sex pheromones from adult females was investigated using electrophysiological techniques. Each male nematode was pierced with an electrode close to the cephalic region and then exposed to pheromones from virgin females. Cellular responses in the form of action potentials were recorded as spike activity. The spike frequency produced byG. rostochiensisandG. pallidamales increased significantly after the application of their homospecific pheromone. The spike frequency produced byG. pallidamales also increased significantly after the application ofG. rostochiensisfemale sex pheromone. In contrast, males ofG. rostochiensisshowed no significant response toG. pallidafemale sex pheromone. The electrophysiological results support and considerably extend information from agar plate behavioural bioassays.