Occurence of phytoparasitic nematodes associated with some crop plants in Northern Egypt

Authors: IBRAHIM, IBRAHIM KHAYRY - Alexandria University Of Egypt; Handoo, Zafar

Submitted to: Pakistan Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/22/2016
Publication Date: 6/1/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/63155
Citation: Ibrahim, I.A., Handoo, Z.A. 2016. Occurence of phytoparasitic nematodes associated with some crop plants in Northern Egypt. Pakistan Journal of Nematology. 34(2):163-169.

Interpretive Summary: Plant-parasitic nematodes are microscopic worms that attack plant roots and cause an estimated ten billion dollars of crop loss each year in the United States and 100 billion dollars globally. In order to determine if nematodes are causing agricultural problems, crop specialists routinely conduct field surveys looking for the presence of nematodes. This survey report produced by a collaboration of ARS and Alexandria University scientists describes the discovery in Egypt of twenty-three types of various plant-parasitic and soil nematodes associated with economically important crops. The results are significant because five nematode species were identified for the first time in Egypt. Survey results revealed new host plant records for most of the identified nematode species in Egypt. This report will serve as a useful guide to researchers in planning future research, identifying economically important nematode species, or determining which nematodes may be present in specific areas in Egypt.

Technical Abstract: Information concerning the occurrence and distribution of phytoparasitic nematodes in Egypt is very important for agricultural production. A nematode survey was conducted in northern Egypt to identify the genera and species of phytoparasitic nematodes associated with some crop plants. A total of 240 soil and root samples were collected from the rhizosphere of the surveyed plants and then processed for nematode extraction and identification. Twenty-three genera of phytoparasitic nematodes were detected in the collected soil and root samples. In soil samples from Alexandria governorate, the sugar beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii) was very common on sugar beet while the root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica were very common on guava, olive trees and sugar beet. Helicotylenchus pseudorobustus, M. incognita, Pratylenchus sp., Rotylenchulus reniformis and Xiphinema sp. were observed in spearmint soil samples. The dagger nematode Xiphinema rivesi was found in orange soil samples from El-Nobarria, El-Beheira governorate. In lantana soil samples from El-Giza governorate, Aglenchus geraerti, Bitylenchus ventrosignatus, Coslenchus capsici, Helicotylenchus indicus, and Malenchus bryanti were identified for the first time in Egypt. Survey results revealed new host plant records for most of the identified nematode species in Egypt.