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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #301546

Title: Host status of Rubus species and hybrids for the root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus penetrans

Author
item Zasada, Inga
item MOORE, P - Washington State University

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/3/2014
Publication Date: 9/1/2014
Citation: Zasada, I.A., Moore, P.P. 2014. Host status of Rubus species and hybrids for the root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus penetrans. HortScience. 49:1128-1131.

Interpretive Summary: Plant-parasitic nematodes are microscopic soil worms that attack raspberry plants and cause significant loss in yield to this crop annually. Raspberry farmers face an enormous problem because they lack effective ways of reducing the numbers of nematodes in soil after a raspberry crop has been planted. This research was conducted to identify sources of resistance to the root lesion nematode in plants closely related to raspberry, which is part of the plant genus Rubus. The ultimate goal is to incorporate identified sources of root lesion nematode resistance into a commercially acceptable raspberry variety. In greenhouse trials, Rubus species materials as well as crosses were challenged with root lesion nematode and resistance was evaluated by comparing numbers of nematodes at the beginning and end of experiments; a resistant plant would have fewer nematodes at the end of the experiment compared to the beginning. Two sources of resistance to this nematode were identified, Rubus niveus and Rubus leucodermis. This research will be by used scientists and farmers to manage root lesion nematode in raspberry fields. Having resistance as a tool to manage the root lesion nematode in raspberries would reduce the impact of this nematode on raspberry productivity as well as reduce the need for pre- and/or post-plant chemical treatments to keep this nematode in check.

Technical Abstract: The root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus penetrans, is a production-limiting pest in red raspberry, Rubus idaeus, in the United States. Having resistance as a tool to manage P. penetrans in raspberries would reduce the impact of this nematode on raspberry productivity as well as reduce the need for pre- and/or post-plant chemical treatments to keep this nematode in check. Eleven Rubus species (R. coreanus, R. crataegifolius, R. innominatus, R. leucodermis, R. niveus, R. parviflorus, R. parvifolius, R. pungens, R. spectabilis, R. sumatranus, and R. odoratus) were evaluated for resistance to P. penetrans in greenhouse studies. Additionally, hybrids of R. cockburnianus, R. lasiostylus, R. niveus, R. phoenicolasis, and R. sumatranus with R. idaeus ‘Meeker’ or ‘Tulameen’ were evaluated. The industry standard ’Meeker’ was included in all trials as the control. There was no difference among most of the Rubus materials tested for P. penetrans host status. The exceptions were R. niveus and R. leucodermis which were resistant to P. penetrans in all of the trials. In addition, when another selection of R. niveus was evaluated in the final year of this experiment, it was also resistant to P. penetrans. It appears that R. niveus and R. leucodermis, might be sources of resistance for P. penetrans. However, a hybrid between a R. niveus selection that supported low numbers of P. penetrans and R. idaeus and the backcross of this hybrid with R. idaeus did not consistently support fewer P. penetrans than the control.