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Life Cycle of Nematodes Associated with Fig Pollinating Wasp and Dioecious Fig Tree, Ficus Hispida L
Last modified: 2019-03-13
Abstract
Several species nematodes have been known to associate with the mutualism between fig trees (Ficus spp.) and their pollinating wasps. This research was conducted to determine he life cycle of nematodes transferred into figs by pollinating wasps (Ceratosolen solmsi marchali) of dioecious fig tree Ficus hispida L. The research was done by sampling the figs from male and female trees grown along the road in the western coast of Aceh Province, Indonesia. Three species nematodes were found to develop inside the figs of male and female trees. The pollinating that entered B-phase figs from male trees successfully laid eggs, but they failed to pollinate the flowers inside, so that there were no seeds produced. The nematodes carried inside the figs grew and reproduced, then attached themselves to the wasp’s offspring and transported outside the figs to search new B-phase figs to enter. On the other hand, the wasps that entered figs from female trees failed to lay eggs but they pollinated flowers which turned into seeds. Nematodes transported into figs of female trees also grew and reproduced along with the development of seeds. However, these nematodes were trapped inside the figs since there were no wasps offspring produced to transfer nematodes outside.
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