Fig. 3

Embryos at different developmental stages. Characteristic stages in the embryonic development of M. incognita viewed by Nomarski DIC or bright field optics. A timescale in days after the first cell division is given at the bottom, and the corresponding pictures are indicated in this timescale. a single-cell stage; b 2-cell stage; c 4-cell stage with cells shifting from a linear towards a rhomboid pattern; d 8-cell stage prior to the division of the P₃ cell; e embryo at the onset of gastrulation, both E-cells start to migrate inwards; f and g multiple cell stage showing clear differences between large endoderm cells surrounded by smaller ectoderm cells; h and i multiple cell stage showing clear difference between the light anterior pharynx part and a more dense granulated posterior part of the embryo; j elongation stage on the onset of bending in the eggshell; k 2-fold stage; l 3-fold (pretzel) stage. Orientation: anterior, left. Bar = 25 μm