How do plant-parasitic nematodes feed?

How do plant-parasitic nematodes feed?

• A. Using a stylet to pierce plant cells
• B. By sucking sap through a hollow needle
• C. By absorbing through stomata
• D. By digesting root hairs

Answer: (A)

Plant-parasitic nematodes feed with a specialized mouthpart called a stylet that acts as a tiny spear to puncture plant root cells. Once a cell is pierced, they inject enzymes and suck out the cell contents to nourish themselves, which damages the plant tissue and can stunt or deform roots. The idea of sucking sap through a hollow needle isn’t how nematodes feed—they don’t have a hollow feeding tube like some insects. Absorbing through stomata isn’t possible because stomata are leaf surface openings for gas exchange, not a feeding route. And nematodes feed on the contents of cells rather than simply digesting root hairs, so the puncture-and-feed method using the stylet best describes their feeding.

Plant-parasitic nematodes feed with a specialized mouthpart called a stylet that acts as a tiny spear to puncture plant root cells. Once a cell is pierced, they inject enzymes and suck out the cell contents to nourish themselves, which damages the plant tissue and can stunt or deform roots. The idea of sucking sap through a hollow needle isn’t how nematodes feed—they don’t have a hollow feeding tube like some insects. Absorbing through stomata isn’t possible because stomata are leaf surface openings for gas exchange, not a feeding route. And nematodes feed on the contents of cells rather than simply digesting root hairs, so the puncture-and-feed method using the stylet best describes their feeding.