THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE NEMATODE RADOPHOLUS GRACILIS (DE MAN, 1880) HIRSCHMANN, 1955, PARASITIC IN ROOTS OF WILD RICE, ZIZANIA AQUATICA L.
The anatomy of Radopholus gracilis is described, the description being based chiefly on the study of living specimens and intravital staining with methylene blue and neutral red. Cajal's silver impregnation method and Golgi's bichromate silver method, both with slight modifications, prove useful.Cuticle striated with four longitudinal incisures; 16–18 muscle cells in anterior region; head supported by six-ridged cuticular framework with six lips and 16 sense organs; excretory system with anterior and posterior canals opening into an ampulla, all on left side of the body, and a cuticular terminal duct; ovaries opposed and outstretched; vas deferens differentiated into three regions and no central rachis in the gonads; nerve ring associated with a group of 7, 13, and 27 cells on dorsal, ventral, and lateral sides respectively; phasmid nerve supply from lateral nerves; 'hemizouid' organ present. The nematodes appear to be adapted to an aquatic environment and seem to be unaffected by low temperatures and low oxygen content in their habitat.