Rates of Spore Transmission, Mortality, and Production for the Nematophagous FungusHirsutella rhossiliensis

Transmission of spores of Hirsutella rhossiliensis to juveniles of Heterodera schachtii (J2) was quantified in soil microcosms (17 cm 3 ) containing loamy sand (−60 mbar matric potential) or coarse sand (−20 mbar) at 20 C. Transmission measured as the probability (P) of a J2 acquiring at least one spore (as a function of numbers of spores × 10 3 per microcosm [S], was greater in loamy sand (P = [1.05S]/[S + 31]) than in coarse sand (P = −0.006 + 0.0016S). The value of P was constrained between 1 and 0. Difference to the effects of soil spore diameter on nematode motility and the probability of a nematode passing but not contacting a spore (...)