Spores of Frankia strain HFPCcl3 nodulate Casuarina equisetifolia after passage through the digestive tracts of captive parakeets (Melopsittacus undulatus)

Abstract

Spores of Frankia strain HFPCcl3 nodulated Casuarina equisetifolia after passage through the digestive tracts of captive parakeets (Melopsittacus undulatus). Parakeets excreted infectious fecal material from 6 to 72 h after ingesting food inoculated with Frankia spores. Air desiccation of spore-containing fecal material reduced its infectious capacity by approximately 90%. Hyphal filaments of this strain lost most of their infectious capacity after passage through parakeet digestive tracts. These results indicate that it is possible for spores of Frankia to survive passage through the digestive tracts of birds, thereby predisposing them to avian dispersal. Key words: actinorhizal plants, Casuarina, Frankia, nodulation, parakeets, spores.