Suppression of nematophagous fungi by enchytraeid worms: a field exclosure experiment

The feeding biology of Enchytraeus crypticus and other enchytraeids is poorly understood as is their effect on nematophagous fungi. Because enchytraeids had been associated with nematophagous fungi in the field and had suppressed these fungi in soil microcosms, we tested the hypothesis that exclusion of enchytraeids, largely E. crypticus, would improve establishment of certain nematophagous fungi in field plots. The fungi, Hirsutella rhossiliensis and Monacrosporium gephyropagum, are being studied as potential control agents of plant-parasitic nematodes and were formulated as hyphae in alginate pellets. The pellets were mixed into soil without enchytraeids and placed in cages (PVC pipe, 80 cm³ volume) with fine (20 μm) or coarse (480 μm) mesh; cages were buried 15 cm deep in field plots and then recovered after 6–52 days. When fine mesh was used, enchytraeids were excluded and the fungi increased to large numbers. When coarse mesh was used, enchytraeid numbers in cages increased rapidly and the fungi did poorly. Although mesh also affected other potential fungivores, including collembolans and large dorylaimid nematodes, we suspect that enchytraeids were more important because large numbers were consistently found in cages with coarse mesh soon after the cages were placed in soil. Organisms smaller than enchytraeids (bacteria, fungi, and protozoa) also appeared to be important because the fungi did better in heat-treated soil than in non-heat-treated soil, regardless of mesh size. The rapid increase in enchytraeid numbers in cages with hyphal pellets and coarse mesh was probably caused by movement of enchytraeids toward the pellets with hyphae: increase in enchytraeid numbers was minimal when movement into cages was blocked (or when cages contained pellets without hyphae). Overall, the data were consistent with the hypothesis that enchytraeids, or other meso- or macrofauna, contributed to suppression of nematophagous fungi in our field plots. Received: 22 April 1997 / Accepted: 16 June 1997     

Soil fauna communities and microbial respiration in high Arctic tundra soils at Zackenberg, Northeast Greenland

The soil fauna communities were described for three dominant vegetation types in a high arctic site at Zackenberg, Northeast Greenland. Soil samples were extracted to quantify the densities of mites, collembolans, enchytraeids, diptera larvae, nematodes and protozoa. Rates of microbial respiration were also assessed. Collembolans were found in highest densities in dry heath soil, about 130,000 individuals m⁻², more than twice as high as in mesic heath soils. Enchytraeids, diptera larvae and nematodes were also more abundant in the dry heath soil than in mesic heath soils, whereas protozoan densities (naked amoeba and heterotrophic flagellates) were equal. Respiration rate of unamended soil was similar in soil from the three plots. However, a higher respiration rate increase in carbon + nutrient amended soil and the higher densities of soil fauna (with the exception of mites and protozoa) in dry heath compared to the mesic heath soils indicated a higher decomposition rate here.     

Trampling and Spatial Heterogeneity Explain Decomposer Abundances in a Sub-Arctic Grassland Subjected to Simulated Reindeer Grazing

Mammal grazing is composed of three mechanisms—removal of foliar tissue (defoliation), return of nutrients via dung and urine (fertilization), and trampling. To evaluate the relative role of these mechanisms in the effect of reindeer grazing on soil biota in northern grasslands, we subjected experimental plots in a sub-arctic alpine meadow to defoliation, fertilization (using NPK-solution), simulated trampling, and their factorial combinations once a year from 2002 to 2004 and measured the response of plants and decomposers (including microbes, nematodes, collembolans, and enchytraeids) in 2004. Trampling affected both plant and decomposer communities: the coverage of the moss Pleurozium schreberi and the sedge Carex vaginata, as well as the abundance of collembolans and enchytraeids were reduced in trampled plots. Trampling and fertilization also interacted significantly, with fertilization increasing the abundance of bacteria and bacterial-feeding and omnivorous nematodes in trampled plots only, and trampling decreasing fungal biomass in non-fertilized plots only. Defoliation had no overall effects on plants or decomposers. Nematode genera were not affected by the experimental treatments, but nematode and plant communities were significantly associated, and all decomposer biota, except collembolans, were strongly affected by the spatial heterogeneity of the study site. Our results indicate that trampling may have larger and defoliation and fertilization smaller roles than anticipated in explaining reindeer grazing effects in sub-arctic grasslands. However, even the effects of trampling seem to be outweighed by the spatial heterogeneity of decomposer abundances. This suggests that in sub-arctic grasslands spatial variation in abiotic factors can be a more important factor than grazing in controlling soil biota abundances. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Author contributions  LIS was involved in planning of the study, fieldwork, lab work, analysis, and wrote the article with contributions from all other authors; JM and MMK conceived the study and contributed to the data analyses; MMK further contributed to the field work and JM refined the final appearance of the text; JO started and was responsible for managing the field experiment, collecting the plant data and gave advice on statistical analysis.     

The soil fauna community in pure and mixed stands of beech and spruce of different age: trophic structure and structuring forces

This study investigates the response of the soil fauna community to replacement of beech by spruce or by mixed stands of beech and spruce. Stands of different age were investigated in a factorial design with the factors tree species (beech and spruce) and stand age (30 and 120 yr). The input of leaf/needle litter did not differ significantly between the study sites. By contrast, the amount of organic matter in upper soil layers (L/F, H/Ah) of spruce forests strongly exceeded that of beech forests particularly in mature stands. The increase in organic matter in spruce stands was not associated by an increase in the amount of microbial biomass. Biomass of eight (bacterivorous, fungivorous and omnivorous nematodes, enchytraeids, earthworms, isopodes, mycetophilid and cecidomyiid Diptera) of the twelve microbi‐detritivorous soil animal groups studied was significantly increased in beech forests; only that of one group (elaterid beetles) was increased in spruce forests and three groups did not respond significantly (collembolans, oribatid mites, sciarid Diptera). This indicates that in the forests studied neither habitat space (amount of organic matter in L/F and H/Ah layers) nor the amount of microbial biomass controlled microbi‐detritivores. Rather, the quality of litter materials and the concentration of microbial biomass therein appeared to be most important. Herbivores and predators also were favoured by beech: the biomass of one (rhizophagous nematodes) of the three herbivorous groups studied were significantly increased in beech stands and none in spruce stands; the biomass of four (predatory nematodes, centipedes, carabid and cantharid beetles) of the seven carnivorous groups studied were increased in beech stands, none in spruce stands. Generally, the biomass ratio between prey and predators was at a minimum in mature beech and mixed stands indicating more intense top‐down control in these forests. Overall, the study documents that replacement of beech by spruce strongly alters the soil food web. Mixed stands were more similar to spruce stands in respect to the biomass of soil animal groups but predator–prey interactions appeared to be more similar in mature beech and mixed stands. Differences between tree species usually were more pronounced in 120 compared to 30 yr old stands indicating that the development of stand characteristics is slow.     

Localisation of serotonin and dopamine in Haemonchus contortus

Serotonin and dopamine play important roles in the biology of nematodes where they exert their effect on feeding, locomotion and reproductive behavior. Haemonchus contortus, a parasitic nematode which infects small ruminants, is responsible for considerable economic losses in agriculture. In the current study we have mapped the localisation of these two neurotransmitters in this parasite using immuno-staining. Serotonin localised in amphidial and pharyngeal neurons in both adult female and male worms. Serotonin was also found in ray sensory neurons as well as in a few ventral cord motor neurons exclusively in adult males. Surprisingly, dopamine was only detected in the neuronal commissures linking the lateral and sub-lateral nerve cords in both sexes. We also studied the effect of these two molecules on female adult worms in vitro. Serotonin mainly inhibited movement whereas dopamine had a profound paralytic effect on the mid-body of the worms.     

Interrelationships between yeast fungi and collembolans in soil

The possibility of feeding on green and newly fallen leaves of the small-leaved lime Tilia cordata was studied for the collembolans Protaphorura armata and Vertagopus pseudocinereus. Young leaves grown under sterile conditions and almost free of yeast fungi were found to be toxic to the collembolan V. pseudocinereus: feeding on them led to the death of the animals. Leaves grown under natural conditions were nontoxic: when used by the collembolans as feed, they provided for collembolan growth and fecundity. Feeding preferences of the collembolans in relation to the yeasts attributed to different ecomorphs—epiphytes, litter saprophytes, pedobionts, and saccharobionts—were studied. Of the 24 yeast strains isolated from plant green parts, litter, and soil and assigned to eight species, no strain was revealed that was not used by the collembolans. However, certain yeast strains were preferable for the collembolans. The population of the V. pseudocinereus collembolans feeding on the yeast Rhodotorula glutinis (nss 31–4) exceeded that grown on Cryptococcus terricola (2044) 1.5-fold. Thus, the collembolans have feeding preferences in relation to yeast fungi, as was shown earlier with mycelial micromycetes. The possible mechanisms of the feeding preferences of the collembolans in relation to yeasts are discussed.     

Succession of fungi and fauna during decomposition of needles in a small area of Scots pine litter

During micromorphological investigations on Scots pine litter, several decomposition stages have been recognized on fallen pine needles, each being associated with the activity of animal and microbial organisms, both. To well-known fungal successions that have been so far described by mycologists we must add succession of animal groups such as nematodes, amoebae, enchytraeids, sciarid larvae, oribatid mites and earthworms. A bacterial development was observed in the L₂ layer, following penetration by microfauna (nematodes, amoebae). After that stage pine needles were actively tunnelled by enchytraeids, sciarid larvae and oribatid mites and at the same time were nibbled on by epigeic earthworms (L₂ and F₁ layers). When the fine root system of pine developed through accumulated old needles (F₁ layer), mycorrhizal fungi penetrated the needles and seemed to impede any further bacterial development. Pine foliar tissues were progressively incorporated into the fecal material of earthworms and other members of the soil fauna. A more realistic scheme was suggested for plant litter decomposition in moder humus.     

Interrelationships between yeast fungi and collembolans in soil

The possibility of feeding on green and newly fallen leaves of the small-leaved lime Tilia cordata was studied for the collembolans Protaphorura armata and Vertagopus pseudocinereus. Young leaves grown under sterile conditions and almost free of yeast fungi were established to be toxic to the collembolan V. pseudocinereus: feeding on them led to the death of the animals. Leaves grown under natural conditions were nontoxic: when used by the collembolans as feed, they provided for collembolan growth and fecundity. Feeding preferences of the collembolans in relation to the yeasts attributed to different ecomorphs-epiphytes, litter saprophytes, pedobionts, and saccharobionts-were studied. Of the 24 yeast strains isolated from plant green parts, litter, and soil and assigned to eight species, no strain was revealed that was not used by the collembolans. However, certain yeast strains were preferable for the collembolans. The population of the V. pseudocinereus collembolans feeding on the yeast Rhodotorula glutinis (nss 31-4) exceeded that grown on Cryptococcus terricola (2044) 1.5-fold. Thus, the collembolans have feeding preferences in relation to yeast fungi, as was shown earlier for mycelial micromycetes. The possible mechanisms of the feeding preferences of the collembolans in relation to yeasts are discussed.     

Spread and Transmission of Bacterial Pathogens in Experimental Populations of the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans is frequently used as a model species for the study of bacterial virulence and innate immunity. In recent years, diverse mechanisms contributing to the nematode''s immune response to bacterial infection have been discovered. Yet despite growing interest in the biochemical and molecular basis of nematode-bacterium associations, many questions remain about their ecology. Although recent studies have demonstrated that free-living nematodes could act as vectors of opportunistic pathogens in soil, the extent to which worms may contribute to the persistence and spread of these bacteria has not been quantified. We conducted a series of experiments to test whether colonization of and transmission between C. elegans nematodes could enable two opportunistic pathogens (Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) to spread on agar plates occupied by Escherichia coli. We monitored the transmission of S. enterica and P. aeruginosa from single infected nematodes to their progeny and measured bacterial loads both within worms and on the plates. In particular, we analyzed three factors affecting the dynamics of bacteria: (i) initial source of the bacteria, (ii) bacterial species, and (iii) feeding behavior of the host. Results demonstrate that worms increased the spread of bacteria through shedding and transmission. Furthermore, we found that despite P. aeruginosa''s relatively high transmission rate among worms, its pathogenic effects reduced the overall number of worms colonized. This study opens new avenues to understand the role of nematodes in the epidemiology and evolution of pathogenic bacteria in the environment.     

Influence of lactic acid bacteria on longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans and host defense against salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis

This study aimed to develop a convenient model to investigate the senescence of host defenses and the influence of food and nutrition. A small soil nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, was grown for 3 days from hatching on a lawn of Escherichia coli OP50 as the normal food source, and subsequently some of the nematodes were fed lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The life spans of worms fed LAB were significantly longer than the life spans of those fed OP50. To investigate the effect of age on host defenses, 3- to 7-day-old worms fed OP50 were transferred onto a lawn of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis for infection. The nematodes died over the course of several days, and the accumulation of salmonella in the intestinal lumen suggested that the worms were infected. The 7-day-old worms showed a higher death rate during the 5 days after infection than nematodes infected at the age of 3 days; no clear difference was observed when the worms were exposed to OP50. We then investigated whether the LAB could exert probiotic effects on the worms' host defenses and improve life span. Seven-day-old nematodes fed LAB from the age of 3 days were more resistant to salmonella than worms fed OP50 until they were infected with salmonella. This study clearly showed that LAB can enhance the host defense of C. elegans and prolong life span. The nematode appears to be an appropriate model for screening useful probiotic strains or dietetic antiaging substances.     

Stable-isotope labeling with amino acids in nematodes

We describe an approach for accurate quantitation of global protein dynamics in Caenorhabditis elegans. We adapted stable-isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) for nematodes by feeding worms a heavy lysine- and heavy arginine-labeled Escherichia coli strain and report a genetic solution to elminate the problem of arginine-to-proline conversion. Combining our approach with quantitative proteomics methods, we characterized the heat-shock response in worms.     

Factors' governing ingestion by the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris (L.), with special reference to apple leaves

Captive worms fed little on fresh apple leaves, but did so readily after the leaves had been leached in water. This was due to their being soft and easy to fragment and not to loss of unpalatable substances during the leaching process. A simple apparatus to measure leaf texture is described. Worm feeding rates were similar for leaves of similar texture but of different phenolic content. Filter paper was accepted as food. The addition of leaf leachates to filter paper disks increased feeding rates, so did added bacterial cells. The part played by leaf micro-organisms in the nutrition of worms and their effect on leaf texture is discussed. Unsoftened leaf material was readily eaten provided it was small enough to be swallowed whole. Leaves from various aromatic plants were eaten by starved worms, but rejected by well-fed ones. Starved worms given aromatic leaf material together with apple leaf preferred the latter. Various unusual materials were eaten, but polyester foam was accepted only when coated with bacterial cells. Responses to chemical as well as to tactile stimuli seem to be involved.     

The response of a three trophic level soil food web to the identity and diversity of plant species and functional groups

Despite considerable recent interest in how biodiversity may influence ecosystem properties, the issue of how plant diversity and composition may affect multiple trophic levels in soil food webs remains essentially unexplored. We conducted a glasshouse experiment in which three plant species of each of three functional groups (grasses, N‐fixing legumes and forbs) were grown in monoculture and in mixtures of three species (with the three species being in the same or different functional groups) and all nine species. Plant species identity had important effects on the biomasses or population densities of belowground primary consumers (microbial biomass, herbivorous nematodes) and two groups of secondary consumers (microbe‐feeding nematodes and enchytraeids); the third consumer trophic level (predatory nematodes) was marginally not significantly affected at P=0.05. Plant species also influenced the relative importance of the bacterial‐based and fungal‐based energy channels for both the primary and secondary consumer trophic levels. Within‐group diversity of only the soil microflora and herbivorous nematodes (both representing the basal consumer trophic level) were affected by plant species identity. However, community composition within all trophic groupings considered (herbivorous nematodes, microbes, microbe‐feeding nematodes, predatory nematodes) was strongly influenced by what plant species were present. Despite the strong responses of the soil biota to plant species identity, there were few effects of plant species or functional group richness on any of the belowground response variables measured. Further, net primary productivity (NPP) was unaffected by plant diversity. Since some belowground response variables were correlated with NPP across treatments, it is suggested that belowground responses to plant diversity might become more apparent in situations when NPP itself responds to plant diversity. Our results point to plant species identity as having important multitrophic effects on soil food webs, both at the whole trophic group and within‐group levels of resolution, and suggest that differences in plant traits across species may be important in driving the decomposer subsystem.     

Influence of Lactic Acid Bacteria on Longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans and Host Defense against Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis

This study aimed to develop a convenient model to investigate the senescence of host defenses and the influence of food and nutrition. A small soil nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, was grown for 3 days from hatching on a lawn of Escherichia coli OP50 as the normal food source, and subsequently some of the nematodes were fed lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The life spans of worms fed LAB were significantly longer than the life spans of those fed OP50. To investigate the effect of age on host defenses, 3- to 7-day-old worms fed OP50 were transferred onto a lawn of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis for infection. The nematodes died over the course of several days, and the accumulation of salmonella in the intestinal lumen suggested that the worms were infected. The 7-day-old worms showed a higher death rate during the 5 days after infection than nematodes infected at the age of 3 days; no clear difference was observed when the worms were exposed to OP50. We then investigated whether the LAB could exert probiotic effects on the worms' host defenses and improve life span. Seven-day-old nematodes fed LAB from the age of 3 days were more resistant to salmonella than worms fed OP50 until they were infected with salmonella. This study clearly showed that LAB can enhance the host defense of C. elegans and prolong life span. The nematode appears to be an appropriate model for screening useful probiotic strains or dietetic antiaging substances.     

Failure of a Mycelial Formulation of the Nematophagous FungusHirsutella rhossiliensisto Suppress the NematodeHeterodera schachtii

Research was conducted to determine whether pelletized hyphae ofHirsutella rhossiliensissuppressed invasion of roots by the sugarbeet cyst nematodeHeterodera schachtiiin field microplots. The loamy sand in the microplots was infested withH. schachtiibut not withH. rhossiliensis.Alginate pellets, with or without hyphae ofH. rhossiliensis,were mixed into soil removed from the microplots (1 pellet/cm³of soil). The soil was placed in cylinders positioned vertically in microplots; cylinders (6/microplot) were 10.1 cm wide and 15.3 cm deep and contained 1200 cm³of soil. Pellets and soil also were placed in soil observation chambers, which were buried in the cylinders or kept at 20°C in moisture chambers in the laboratory. After 12 days, cabbage seeds were planted in each cylinder, and after 10 days of growth, the seedlings were removed from the soil andH. schachtiiin the roots were counted. The number ofH. schachtiiin roots was large and was unaffected by addition ofH. rhossiliensis.In soil observation chambers,H. rhossiliensisgrew vigorously from the pellets in heat-treated soil but not in nonheated soil, and enchytraeids and collembolans were observed near damaged pellets. We suspect that organisms, possibly including enchytraeids and collembolans, fed upon or otherwise inhibitedH. rhossil- iensis.     

Aboveground mammal and invertebrate exclusions cause consistent changes in soil food webs of two subalpine grassland types,but mechanisms are system‐specific

Ungulates, smaller mammals, and invertebrates can each affect soil biota through their influence on vegetation and soil characteristics. However, direct and indirect effects of the aboveground biota on soil food webs remain to be unraveled. We assessed effects of progressively excluding aboveground large‐, medium‐ and small‐sized mammals as well as invertebrates on soil nematode diversity and feeding type abundances in two subalpine grassland types: short‐ and tall‐grass vegetation. We explored pathways that link exclusions of aboveground biota to nematode feeding type abundances via changes in plants, soil environment, soil microbial biomass, and soil nutrients. In both vegetation types, exclusions caused a similar shift toward higher abundance of all nematode feeding types, except plant feeders, lower Shannon diversity, and lower evenness. These effects were strongest when small mammals, or both small mammals and invertebrates were excluded in addition to excluding larger mammals. Exclusions resulted in a changed abiotic soil environment that only affected nematodes in the short‐grass vegetation. In each vegetation type, exclusion effects on nematode abundances were mediated by different drivers related to plant quantity and quality. In the short‐grass vegetation, not all exclusion effects on omni–carnivorous nematodes were mediated by the abundance of lower trophic level nematodes, suggesting that omni–carnivores also depended on other prey than nematodes. We conclude that small aboveground herbivores have major impacts on the soil food web of subalpine short‐ and tall‐grass ecosystems. Excluding aboveground animals caused similar shifts in soil nematode assemblages in both subalpine vegetation types, however, mechanisms turned out to be system‐specific.     

Nippostrongylus brasiliensis: reversibility of reduced-energy status associated with the course of expulsion from the small intestine in rats

Gastrointestinal nematodes require energy for active establishment in the gut against intestinal flow and peristaltic motion. In this study we employed CellTiter-Glo Luminescent Cell Viability Assay to measure the ATP value of individual adult Nippostrongylus brasiliensis during the course of immune-mediated expulsion from the small intestine in rats. The ATP values of adult worms taken from the lumen of the distal small intestine were lower than worms collected from the lumen of the proximal small intestine. Moreover, values from worms in the lumen of the proximal small intestine were lower than those from worms in the mucosa, the preferred site of adult N. brasiliensis. The reduction of ATP values in worms from each region was observed not only at expulsion phase, but also at established phases of the infection suggesting that energy metabolism of the parasites is independent of host immune response. When adult worms with low ATP values on day 12 post-infection were implanted surgically into the small intestine of na?ve rats, the worms re-established in recipients and completely restored the ATP values. Short in vitro culture of adult worms under low oxygen tension resulted in low ATP value in the worms. These results suggested that adult worms were dislodged from their preferred site by intact energy metabolism activity.     

The effects of sheep grazing on invertebrate numbers and biomass in unfertilized natural pastures of the New England Tablelands (NSW)

Invertebrate components of natural pastures which were grazed continuously by sheep at three stocking intensities, were sampled each season for more than two years. Grazing resulted in a significant reduction in abundance of litter and topsoil micro-arthropods. Two samplings for nematodes and enchytraeids showed similar reductions with grazing. Grazing effects on the vertical distribution of mesofauna were not consistent but all sites had greatest numbers in the 0 – 5 cm topmost soil layer. Fresh biomass of large soil and litter dwelling invertebrates also declined with grazing, with proportionally greater reductions occurring for litter animals. Changes in invertebrate populations were associated with changes in living space, microclimate and food supply. Populations of invertebrates on natural pastures were about one-third those found on previously studied sown, fertilized pastures at Armidale.     

Gastrointestinal helminths of King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) at Crozet Archipelago

Communities of helminths are known to be related to feeding behaviors of hosts. While climate change and overfishing can impact food availability for Antarctic piscivorous predators, knowledge about infectious and parasitic diseases among Antarctic species is scarce or fragmentary. We studied the helminth community of King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) from the Crozet Archipelago, the main breeding area of the species. Based on a sample of 41 individuals found freshly dead from predation or starvation, the gastrointestinal helminth community in King penguins was composed of 1 species of cestode (Tetrabothrius wrighti) and 2 species of nematodes (Tetrameres wetzeli and Contracaecum heardi). Cestodes formed the core of the helminth community (97.5% of worms collected) with a prevalence of infestation of 100% and a mean intensity of 178.6 worms per host. Sources of infestation and pathologies caused by these worms are also discussed.     

Suppression of the Root-knot Nematode Meloidogyne javanica by Alginate Pellets Containing the Nematophagous Fungi Hirsutella rhossiliensis , Monacrosporium cionopagum and M. ellipsosporum

The endoparasitic fungus Hirsutella rhossiliensis and the nematode-trapping fungi Monacrosporium cionopagum and M. ellipsosporum were formulated as hyphae in alginate pellets. In a soil microcosm experiment, dried pellets of all three fungi decreased the invasion of cabbage seedlings by the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica when juvenile nematodes were placed 2 cm from roots; M. cionopagum was more effective than the other two fungi, reducing nematode invasion by 40-95% with 0.24-0.94 pellets cm - 3 of soil. In a field microplot experiment, in which neither H. rhossiliensis nor M. ellipsosporum suppressed nematodes, 0.5 pellets of M. cionopagum cm - 3 of soil suppressed M. javanica invasion of tomato seedlings by 73%. In a second microplot experiment with only M. cionopagum , again at 0.5 pellets cm - 3 of soil, the fungus suppressed the invasion of tomato seedlings whether the pellets were added 0, 5 or 14 days before planting; the population density of M. cionopagum increased to nearly 3000 propagules g - 1 of soil by day 8 and then declined to less than 300 by day 22. Enchytraeid worms were observed in and around damaged and apparently destroyed pellets in both microplot experiments. Whether enchytraeids consumed the fungi or otherwise affected biological control requires additional research.