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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #154300
Title: RESPONSES OF STRAWBERRY SPECIES AND CULTIVARS TO THE ROOT LESION AND NORTHERN ROOT-KNOT NEMATODES.

Author
item Pinkerton, John
item Finn, Chad

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2004
Publication Date: 2/2/2005
Citation: Pinkerton, J.N., Finn, C.E., 2005. Responses of strawberry species and cultivars to the root lesion and northern root-knot nematodes.. Hortscience. 40(1):33-38.

Interpretive Summary: The northern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne hapla, and root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus penetran, are important pests in strawberry production worldwide. Both nematode species cause plant stunting, reduced runner production, depressed yields, shortened life of the plantings, and have been implicated in disease complexes. Plant-parasitic nematodes are controlled by preplant fumigation and/or post-plant applications of nonfumigant nematicides, but these management options may not be available in the future. The introduction of strawberry cultivars that are tolerant and/or resistant to plant-parasitic nematodes should decrease the reliance on nematicides. The relative susceptibility of strawberry species (F. chiloensis and F. virginiana) and cultivars (F.x ananassa) to M. hapla and P. penetrans was evaluated in greenhouse experiments. Eleven of forty-four genotypes were highly resistant to populations of M. hapla from Washington State and Oregon. Only seven strawberry genotypes were more resistant to P. penetrans than 'Totem', a susceptible cultivar. The two California cultivars, 'Diamante' and 'Chandler' were among the seven most resistant to P. penetrans. We conclude that commercial cultivars and wild Fragaria genotypes can provide a readily exploitable source of resistance to M. hapla. Conversely, sources of resistance to P. penetrans were uncommon in the germplasm evaluated. Breeding for improved resistance to P. penetrans in developed cultivars will be difficult. The F. x ananassa cultivars, which already have commercially important characteristics, appear to be as good or better sources of resistance than the wild, unimproved germplasm.

Technical Abstract: The relative susceptibility of genotypes of wild Fragaria L. and commercial cultivars of strawberry Fragaria x ananassa Duch. to Meloidogyne hapla Chitwood and Pratylenchus penetrans (Cobb) Filipjev & Shuurmans Stekhoven was evaluated in the greenhouse. Eleven genotypes were highly resistant to populations of M. hapla from Washington State and Oregon, with Rf values (initial nematode density/final population density) less than 0.5. However, root growth of nearly all genotypes, including resistant genotypes, was reduced by M. hapla. Only seven strawberry genotypes were more resistant to P. penetrans than Fragaria x ananassa 'Totem', a susceptible cultivar. The two California cultivars, Fragaria x ananassa 'Diamante' and 'Chandler'were among the seven most resistant types. Root growth of most genotypes was not affected by P. penetrans, demonstrating nematode tolerance under these experimental conditions. We conclude that commercial cultivars and wild Fragaria genotypes can provide a readily exploitable source of resistance to M. hapla. Conversely, sources of resistance to P. penetrans were uncommon in the germplasm evaluated. The F. x ananassa cultivars, which already have commercially important characteristics, appear to be as good or better sources of resistance than the wild, unimproved germplasm. Breeding for improved resistance to P. penetrans in developed cultivars will be difficult.