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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 #284677
Title: Assessment of Pycnostachys urticofolia susceptibility to three species of Meloidogyne

Author
item Burelle, Nancy
item Hilf, Mark
item Rosskopf, Erin

Submitted to: Nematropica
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2013
Publication Date: 6/1/2013
Citation: Burelle, N.K., Hilf, M.E., Rosskopf, E.N. 2013. Assessment of Pycnostachys urticofolia susceptibility to three species of Meloidogyne. Nematropica. 43:40-43.

Interpretive Summary: This note describes the first report of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne arenaria, isolated from blue witches’ hat (Pycnostachys urticifolia), in landscape planting in Florida. Susceptibility of this flower species to two other species of root-knot, M. javanica and M. incognita, was also determined.

Technical Abstract: Pyncostachys urticofolia, an exotic ornamental shrub grown in a residential planting in Orange County, Florida, was found to have root galling typical of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). Several gravid female nematodes were isolated from roots and identified as M. arenaria based on their esterase phenotype. Single egg mass cultures were produced and reinoculated onto P. urticofilia grown from seed in sterilized builder’s sand in the greenhouse. Subsequent egg masses were identified as Meloidogyne arenaria based on their esterase phenotype. Greenhouse experiments were then performed to assess susceptibility of P. urticofolia to two additional root-knot nematode species commonly found in Florida, M. incognita, and M. javanica. Nematode galling and reproduction were evaluated for all three Meloidogyne spp. in replicated trials including Rutger’s tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) as a susceptible control. Root galling and nematode reproduction were similar for P. urticofolia and S. lycopersicum for all species of Meloidogyne tested, demonstrating that P. urticofolia is highly susceptible to M. arenaria, M. incognita, and M. javanica.