ARS | Publication request: Pathogenicity of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes on Blueberry

Submitted to: Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 15, 2009
Publication Date: December 1, 2009
Citation: Zasada, I.A., Forge, T., Pinkerton, J.M. 2009. Pathogenicity of plant-parasitic nematodes on blueberry. Journal of Nematology. 41(4):397.

Technical Abstract: Very little is known about the impacts of plant-parasitic nematodes on commercial production of blueberries (Vaccinium spp.). We conducted field surveys in the Pacific Northwest and Canada, as well as controlled experiments in microplots and in the greenhouse, to understand which plant-parasitic nematodes are present in these production systems and to assess their pathogenicity. Field surveys showed that Paratrichodous renifer was widespread in blueberry plantings in British Columbia and northern Washington. Xiphinema americanum was most commonly found in southern Washington and northern Oregon. Pratylenchus spp. were consistently found across geographic regions in about 45-50% of sampled fields. Northern and southern highbush and lowbush genotypes in field microplots and in pots in the greenhouse were inoculated with P. renifer, P. penetrans and X. americanum; these experiments revealed that 1) blueberry genotypes vary in their susceptibility to P. renifer and, 2) blueberry does not appear to be a host for P. penetrans.