nematophagousadj.
/nɛməˈtɒfəɡəs/, /niːməˈtɒfəɡəs/, U.S. /ˌniməˈtɑfəɡəs/, /ˌnɛməˈtɑfəɡəs/ Biology.
Esp. of a fungus: predacious upon or consuming nematodes.
ΚΠ
1963 Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 46 449 (title) A chemically defined medium for the cultivation of nematophagous hyphomycetes.
1979 Nature 11 Oct. 477/1 In the case of Arthrobotrys oligospora, one of the most common nematophagous fungi, nematodes are trapped in three-dimensional structures of the adhesive network type.
1988 Nature 19 May 261/2 Nematophagous mites prey on bacterial feeding nematodes..fungal feeding netmatodes..and root feeding nematodes.
1998 New Scientist 27 June 68/2 (advt.) Spatio-temporal variation in the genetic diversity of isolates of the nematophagous fungus Verticillium chlamydosporium in soils suppressive to the cereal cyst nematode.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1963