Drechslerella dactyloides

Drechslerella dactyloides is a microscopic soil mould that strangles nematodes with three-celled constricting rings. Unlike net-forming trappers it can form rings directly on germinating conidia. It has been studied as a biological control agent for root-knot nematodes and is a laboratory model for how calcium signalling drives ring inflation.

Species profile

Edibility

Not edible

Not edible; a microscopic mould with no food use.

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Mycology is an evolving science: names, classifications and safety information change as research advances. Entries are compiled from cited sources and reviewed, but may be incomplete or out of date — check the sources, and never rely on this library alone to identify or eat a mushroom.

Habitat

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Characteristics

Mycelium: whitish, spreading; hyphae hyaline, about 2-4 µm wide. Conidiophores: hyaline, erect, 200-550 µm long, tapering to a knob-like tip (Wikipedia, citing Zhang & Hyde 2014) and bearing 3-13 conidia in a head. Conidia: finger-shaped (digitiform), mostly curved, 1-septate, 35-51.5 x 6.5-8 µm (Zhang et al. 2023 key; Wikipedia gives 20-52 µm long). Trap: constricting ring of three ring cells on a stalk of two cells; ring cells inflate to grip the nematode (Zhao et al. 2023). Conidial traps can form directly after germination (Persmark & Nordbring-Hertz 1997, via Wikipedia).