Multiplication potential of Meloidogyne arenaria in weeds found in Brazil.

Bellé, Cristiano; Ramos, Rodrigo Ferraz; Balardin, Ricardo Rubin; Nora, Daiane Dalla; Kaspary, Tiago Edu

Weeds are host and multipliers of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). The status quo of the knowledge of the ability of Meloidogyne arenaria to reproduce in weeds is a little unknown. The present study aimed to evaluate the ability of M. arenaria to parasitize and reproduce in different weeds found in Brazil. Thirty-eight weed species were individually inoculated with 5000 eggs and second stage juveniles. Inoculated plants were kept in a greenhouse for 60 days. The design was completely randomized with twelve repetitions. The root system of each plant was evaluated for gall index, number of nematodes per root gram and reproduction factor. M. arenaria showed the ability to parasitize the 38 weed species. It was observed that 76.3% of the evaluated species were susceptible (RF ≥ 1.0) to M. arenaria. Oxalis corniculata resulted in the highest nematode RF (34.9). The present study identified for the first time the reproduction potential of M. arenaria on different weeds, showing their polyphagous habit, and indicating species of plants with greater ability to multiply this nematode that need more attention during the integrated management of this root-knot nematodes.

BRAZIL; ROOT-knot nematodes; WEEDS; MULTIPLICATION; PLANT species; BIRD eggs

European Journal of Plant Pathology, 2020, Vol 157, Issue 2, p441

0929-1873

Academic Journal

10.1007/s10658-020-02002-z