Trophic Relationships and Ecological Significance of Mycophagous Nematodes in the Rhizosphere of Dog Rose

This article examines the ecological role of fungus-feeding nematodes in the soil surrounding the roots of dog rose (Rosa canina L.) and the criteria for distinguishing them from plant-parasitic nematodes. The main focus of the study is the interpretation of trophic relationships associated with the rhizosphere mycobiota based on morphological characteristics, the sampled substrate, and the condition of the plant roots. Although the structure of the oral apparatus is important for identifying mycophagous nematodes, it is established that feeding habits cannot be determined by a single characteristic alone. The influence of microhabitats shaped by fungal mycelium, organic residues, and root exudates on nematode activity is discussed. The analysis highlights the need to account separately for mycophagous and phytoparasitic forms in the phytosanitary monitoring of dog rose plantations.