Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
10846085 | Soil Biology and Biochemistry | 2011 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
⺠We identified ingested plant material by molecular means from Agriotes larvae, which are amongst the most important soil pests in arable land. ⺠Whole-body DNA extracts of larvae were tested for the presence of both rbcL and trnL plastid DNA using universal primers and specific primers. ⺠Plant DNA was detectable in the guts of Agriotes larvae for up to 72 h post-feeding. ⺠Time since feeding, meal size and initial mass of the individual larvae did not affect the rate of larvae testing positive for plant DNA. ⺠This work will facilitate future studies on soil food web ecology.
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Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Soil Science
Authors
Karin Staudacher, Corinna Wallinger, Nikolaus Schallhart, Michael Traugott,