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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #295312
Title: Susceptibility of several floriculture crops to three common species of meloidogyne in Florida

Author
item Burelle, Nancy
item Rosskopf, Erin

Submitted to: Nematropica
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/4/2013
Publication Date: 12/1/2013
Citation: Burelle, N.K., Rosskopf, E.N. 2013. Susceptibility of several floriculture crops to three common species of meloidogyne in Florida. Nematropica. 43:164-170.

Interpretive Summary: Current restriction on soil fumigants in field grown floriculture crops has increased the importance of determining the susceptibility of these crops to important species of parasitic nematodes. The susceptibility of floriculture crops to root-knot nematodes can differ among crop cultivars and nematode species. Greenhouse experiments were performed to determine the susceptibility several flower crops grown in Florida to three species of root-knot nematode. Celosia (cockscomb), Delphinium (larkspur), Antirrhinum (snapdragon), and Helianthus (sunflower) were evaluated and most were highly susceptible to all three species of root-knot nematodes. Delphinium was less susceptible to root-knot nematode than the other floral crops tested. Results of these trials are consistent with observations from field trials on alternative fumigants conducted in Florida in which low levels of galling by root-knot nematodes were consistently observed on Delphinium.

Technical Abstract: The current and pending restriction on the use of soil fumigants and other nematicides effective in controlling nematodes in field grown floriculture crops has increased the importance of determining the relative susceptibility of these crops to important species of root-knot nematodes. Greenhouse experiments were performed to assess the susceptibility of several floriculture crops grown in Florida to the three most common species of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne arenaria, M. incognita, and M. javanica. Root growth and health, as well as nematode galling and egg production were evaluated for Celosia argentea (cockscomb), Delphinium elatum (larkspur), Antirrhinum latifolium (snapdragon), and Helianthus annuus (sunflower). A susceptible host, Solanum lycopersicum (‘Rutgers’, tomato), was included in all trials for comparison. Most of the floral crops tested were highly susceptible to all three species of root-knot nematodes. Delphinium was not tested for susceptibility to M. arenaria but was consistently less susceptible to M. incognita and M. javanica than the other floral crops tested with those nematode species. Results of these greenhouse trials are consistent with observations from field trials on alternative fumigants conducted in Florida in which low levels of galling by root-knot nematodes were consistently observed on Delphinium.