Amylase, Cellulase, Invertase and Pectinase in Several Free-Living, Mycophagus, and Plant-Parasitic Nematodes 1 )

AMYLASE, CELLULASE, INVERTASE AND PECTINASE IN SEVERAL FREE-LIVING, MYCOPHAGUS, AND PLANT-PARASITIC NEMATODES 1 ) BY RONALD F. MYERS Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.A. The enzymes amylase, cellulase, invertase, and pectinase were investigated by viscometric and spectrophotometric methods using homogenates of up to nine species, representing seven genera, of free-living, mycophagus and higher plant-parasitic nematodes. No amylase activity was demonstrated in homogenates of Meloidogyne arenaria arenaria, M. hapla, M. incognita acrita, Pratylenchus pene- trans, and Radopholus similis, but it occurred in Aphelenchoides sacchari, Ditylenchus triformis and Panagrellus redivivus. Cellulase was present in all these nematodes except P.