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Interactions between Zeldia Punctata (Cephalobidae) and bacteria in the presence or absence of maize plants

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Abstract

Bacterial-feeding nematodes constitute one of the primary grazers of soil bacteria. We investigated the effects of selective grazing of a representative nematode (Zeldia punctata, Cephalobidae) on nematode life history and population biology and on the soil microbial community. Firstly, we measured (i) the effect of five different bacterial strains on the nematode life cycle using petri dishes and (ii) the impact of bacterial inoculation on nematode population growth in a soil microcosm. Selection of the five bacterial strains was based on morphology, cell-wall characteristics and mucus production. Z. punctata development was strongly affected by the type of bacteria ingested, independent of experimental design. Bacterial cell-wall characteristics seemed to directly affect Z. punctata development since high nematode densities were only reached with gram-negative strains (Pseudomonas monteilii and Methylobacterium nodulans). In petri dishes, the filamentous organisms (Actinomyces sp.) and mucus-producing bacteria (Bradyrhizobium sp.) led to the least reproduction. Duration of the various nematode life phases (egg, juvenile, reproductive stage and non-reproductive stage) was significantly affected by the bacterial food source. Total life span varied from 12.5 days (Bradyrhizobium sp.) to 40 days (Pseudomonas monteilii). Secondly, we monitored the influence of Z. punctata on the indigenous soil microbial community in the presence or absence of a maize plantlet. Nematode inoculation led to an increase in bacterial activity (as measured by alkaline phosphatase activity) but did not significantly influence bacterial biomass. The genetic fingerprint (DGGE) of soil bacteria was more influenced by plant presence than by nematode inoculation. Nematode activity has important repercussions on N flux in the soil since inoculation of Z. punctata in the absence of plants resulted in a net increase of N mineralization (2 mg N per pot) while a decrease of mineral N (0.5 mg N per pot) was observed in the absence of the nematodes, due to bacterial immobilization. This study underscores the close relationship between selective bacterial grazing and nematode development. Nevertheless, the impact of nematode grazing on the overall soil microbial community seems to primarily affect microbial activity and relative dominance rather than microbial diversity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IRD, UR IBIS, BP 1386, Dakar, Senegal

    D. Djigal, A. Brauman, J.L. Chotte & C. Villenave

  2. Département de Biologie Végétale, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal

    T.A. Diop

  3. IRD, Laboratoire de Microbiologie, BP 1386, Dakar, Senegal

    T.A. Diop

  4. Département de Biologie Animale, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal

    M. Sy & D. Mountport

Authors
  1. D. Djigal
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  2. M. Sy
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  3. A. Brauman
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  4. T.A. Diop
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Djigal, D., Sy, M., Brauman, A. et al. Interactions between Zeldia Punctata (Cephalobidae) and bacteria in the presence or absence of maize plants. Plant and Soil 262, 33–44 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PLSO.0000037022.16822.75

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