| Aphelenchus avenae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Nematoda |
| Class: | Secernentea |
| Order: | Tylenchida |
| Family: | Aphelenchoididae |
| Genus: | Aphelenchus |
| Species: |
A. avenae
|
| Binomial name | |
|
Aphelenchus avenae
Bastian, 1865
| |
Aphelenchus avenae is a mycophagous nematode capable of feeding on plant tissue in culture.
- Feeding: Hyphal feeder; Aphelenchus avenae feeds on a variety of fungi, but is not known to feed on higher plants.
- Hosts: Fungi
- Digestion: A genetic analysis by Karim et al. 2009 reveals cell wall-lytic enzymes in A. avenae - enzymes analogous in function to the β-1,4-endoglucanases in cyst nematodes.
- Life Cycle: Males seem fairly common in some populations, less frequent in others; Capable of withstanding dry conditions through anhydrobiosis. Used as a model system for studying anhydrobiosis.
- Management: Numbers are increased by addition of complex organic materials to soil to enhance fungal decomposition.