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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #310837

Title: Effect of storage environment on hatching of Globodera ellingtonae

Author
item INGHAM, RUSS - Oregon State University
item KROESE, DUNCAN - Oregon State University
item Zasada, Inga

Submitted to: Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/21/2014
Publication Date: 3/1/2015
Citation: Ingham, R.E., Kroese, D.R., Zasada, I.A. 2015. Effect of storage environment on hatching of Globodera ellingtonae. Journal of Nematology. 47:45-51.

Interpretive Summary: When potato cyst nematodes (Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida) are found in a new location there is usually great interest in conducting research on the biology and management of these microscopic roundworms because they are of regulatory concern to the United States. These nematode have the potential to impact potato production and limit the ability of U.S. growers to export potatoes to other countries. Often a limiting aspect to conducting research on these nematodes is producing enough nematodes with which to conduct experiments. Research on this nematode is further confound by the fact that eggs of this nematode can enter a resting stage and hatch to the infective stage is greatly reduced. This research was conducted to determine the optimal conditions to store eggs of Globodera ellingtonae to promote hatch. Various temperatures and moisture conditions were evaluated in this study. It was determined that egg hatch can be greatly increased by storing eggs in moist soil in a refrigerator or at room temperature. This research will be used by scientists involved in research on Globodera spp. and will enable research to be conducted on strategies to manage these important nematodes.

Technical Abstract: Globodera spp. eggs go through a diapause stage in which development remains dormant until favorable hatching conditions are reached. Because of the regulatory concerns with Globodera spp., it is often only possible to rear eggs for research in the greenhouse. However, hatch is often lower for greenhouse-produced eggs than for eggs obtained from the field. The goal of this research was to determine storage conditions for G. ellingtonae eggs produced in the greenhouse that would increase percentage hatch. Over three years, G. ellingtonae greenhouse-produced eggs were stored in different environments (-20°C, 4°C, room temperature, and the field) in either dry or moist soil. Percentage hatch after exposure to the different environments was determined in potato root diffusate. Across two experiments, field-produced eggs had higher hatch rates (65.2%) than greenhouse-produced eggs (10.4%). Temperature did not have an appreciable influence on hatch of eggs stored dry in two experiments (2.8 to 8.4% and 3.8 to 8.6%), but hatch of eggs stored in moist soil was significantly higher than in dry soil at all temperatures except -20°C (26.8% and 28.7%). However, the ability of G. ellingtonae greenhouse-, microplot-, and field-produced eggs to reproduce on potato in field microplots was not different. While it may not be possible to produce G. ellingtonae eggs in the greenhouse that have the magnitude of hatch as in eggs produced in the field, hatching can be greatly increased by storing eggs in moist soil at either 4°C or room temperature.