Aspects on the attachment of Pasteuria penetrans on root-knot nematodes

Variability in spore attachment of the bacterial parasite Pasteuria penetrans to second stage juveniles of Meloidogyne javanica and M. incognita populations originating from different locations were recorded. Culture of an isolate of Pasteuria penetrans on a Meloidogyne population did not reveal a high compatibility with the nematode population in subsequent attachment tests. However, culture of Pasteuria on a mixed Meloidogyne javanica / M. incognita population resulted in high attachment ability on both species. Serological studies revealed differences between sub-populations of Pasteuria that were created by passaging the same Pasteuria isolate with different Meloidogyne species.