Question

The first record of plant parasitic nematode was in the year?

• A. 1746
• B. 1743
• C. 1762
• D. 1747

Hint:

John Needham discovered Anguina tritici in wheat galls in 1743, which was the first recorded observation of both a plant-parasitic nematode and the phenomenon of anhydrobiosis.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The study of plant-parasitic nematodes began with microscopic observations of diseased plant tissues.
Identifying the date of the first recorded observation of a plant-parasitic nematode is a key milestone in the history of nematology.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The first recorded observation of a plant-parasitic nematode occurred in 1743:
1. The Discovery: John Tuberville Needham, an English priest and naturalist, examined shriveled wheat grains (galls) under a microscope.
Upon crushing a gall in a drop of water, he observed dry, dormant fibers reactivate and begin moving.
2. The Organism: He had discovered the wheat seed gall nematode, which was later named Anguina tritici.
This discovery also demonstrated the phenomenon of anhydrobiosis (the ability of certain organisms to survive extreme desiccation and resume activity when rehydrated).
The other years listed (1746, 1747, and 1762) are historically significant for other biological discoveries but do not represent the first recorded observation of a plant-parasitic nematode.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, the first record of a plant-parasitic nematode was in the year 1743.