Characterization of the hatching fluid from Heterodera avenae

During hatching of cyst nematodes, fluid is released from the egg into the hatching medium. The presence of carbohydrates in the hatching medium of two populations of Heterodera avenae from India and the UK was determined using Western blots probed with different biotinylated lectins. Eighteen specific bands with molecular weights in the range 12-78 kDa were detected in the hatching media collected over the six weeks hatching period. There were no differences between the two populations. The majority of the lectin bands were inhibited by the appropriate competitive sugar, indicating sugar-specific binding. Four different sugars were detected. Of the bands detected with Con A, only two were not completely inhibited which may indicate non sugar-specificity. The possible origin of these carbohydrates during the hatching process is discussed. There were differences in the protein banding pattern of hatched second stage juveniles; an extra band was present at 20 kDa in the population from India, whereas the population from the UK had a band at 34 kDa.