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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Crop Science Research Laboratory » Genetics and Sustainable Agriculture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #201228
Title: Root-knot and reniform nematode infection of cotton hairy roots

Author
item Wubben, Martin
item Callahan, Franklin

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2007
Publication Date: 5/1/2007
Citation: Wubben, M., Callahan, F.E. 2007. Root-knot and reniform nematode infection of cotton hairy roots. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. p. 663.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The root-knot (Meloidogyne spp.) and reniform (Rotylenchulus spp.) nematodes are sedentary root parasites of cotton that cause considerable annual yield losses. To date, there is limited availability of genetic resistance to root-knot nematode in commercial cotton varieties and none available for the reniform nematode. An in vitro hairy root experimental system for studying the interaction between these nematodes and their cotton host would provide a sterile environment from which biological material could be collected without the space, labor and risk of secondary infections associated with greenhouse and growth chamber studies. We present here methods for propagating cotton hairy roots and nematode inoculation that facilitate in vitro nematode infection and reproduction. The reniform nematode has proven to be particularly recalcitrant to in vitro infection studies, therefore, the method presented here should make this pathogen more amenable to molecular-based techniques that are commonly implemented in studying host-nematode interactions.