Storey, R.M.J., Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, England, United Kingdom
Glazer, I., Division of Nematology, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Orion, D., Division of Nematology, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel

The neutral lipid reserves of fresh, starved and anhydrobiotic individuals of Pratylenchus thornei were examined using scanning microdensitometry. A population maintained on Vicia sativa in a greenhouse showed that neutral lipids were largely accumulated by the juvenile stages. Nematodes extracted from the roots and stored in water at 10° for a 6 week period showed an overall decline in their lipid content of approximately 89 % and 46 % for juveniles and adults respectively. The neutral lipid reserves of both the males and females were reduced during artifical desiccation, but at a much lower rate than during starvation in a hydrated condition. There were no significant changes in the level of lipid reserves immediately after rehydration of these nematodes or individuals from a field population. The results suggest that in arid conditions anhydrobiotic P. thornei conserve lipid and this favours its survival between host crops. © 1982 BRILL.