Anguina tritici is a plant pathogenic nematode.

History and significance

Anguina tritici was the first plant parasitic nematode to be described in the literature in 1743. It causes a disease
in wheat and rye called “ear-cockle” or seed gall. Originally found in many parts of the world but has been eradicated from the western hemisphere. Currently in north Africa and west Asia. Yield loses up to 70% have been reported, ranging from 30-70% . Threshold of 10,000 juveniles/kg soil develop disease.

Morphology

It is a large nematode, ranging from 3–5 mm in length. Anguina tritici has a three part esophagus and the esophageal glands do not overlap with intestine. The female body tends to be thickened and curved ventrally. It has a short stylet (8-11 µm). Females have one ovary and the vulva located posterior. Males possess small spicules and small bursae or alae.

Life cycle/reproduction

Juveniles find host and move up the plant in a film of water, they invade meristems and penetrate inflorescence. Once in the developing seed they molt, become adults, mate, and reproduce. Eggs laid by the female develop and hatch as J2 within the seed gall where they desiccate and become dormant. Dormant J2 overwinter in the seed galls until spring. They are released when galls come in contact with moist soil and hydrate. Total life cycle is completed in 113 days.

Host parasite relationship

It is an ectoparasite that becomes endoparasitic invading inflorescence and developing seeds. It causes a disease called “ear-cockle”, “gout” or seed gall on wheat and rye. It is not a host of oat, maize and shorgum. On wheat it causes stunted plants, distorted leaves, seeds are transformed into galls which contain a dried mass of nematodes. If compared to normal wheat seeds, galls are smaller in size, lighter, and their color ranges from light brown to black (normal wheat seeds are tan in color).

Management

The disease has been eradicated by seed sanitation methods. Seed certification programs get rid of galls (lighter and less dense than seed) by flotation, hot water treatments, winnowing or gravity table seed processing.