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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Plant Genetic Resources and Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #345446
Title: Effects of irradiation on the reproduction of Rotylenchulus reniformis

Author
item Myers, Roxana
item Follett, Peter
item Mello, Cathy
item SNOOK, KIRSTEN - University Of Hawaii

Submitted to: Nematology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/29/2017
Publication Date: 1/18/2018
Citation: Myers, R.Y., Follett, P.A., Mello, C.L., Snook, K.A. 2018. Effects of irradiation on the reproduction of Rotylenchulus reniformis. Nematology. 20:265-269.

Interpretive Summary: Reniform nematode is an important agricultural pest of regulatory significance. Capable of damaging a wide range of crops, its movement is restricted to some U.S. states and countries without existing populations. Irradiation was examined as a method of arresting reproduction of reniform nematode in sweet potato tubers. Juvenile nematodes were treated at doses ranging from 100 to 2000 Gy and placed on potted sweet potato plants. After 3 months, nematode populations were evaluated and compared with untreated controls. Reproduction did not occur in nematodes treated with radiation doses of 250 Gy or higher and populations were reduced at 100 Gy.

Technical Abstract: Rotylenchulus reniformis is an agricultural pest of economic and regulatory importance. The effects of irradiation on second stage R. reniformis juveniles were evaluated in a greenhouse bioassay. Nematodes were dispensed in an aqueous solution in microcentrifuge tubes placed in cored Ipomoea batatas tuberous roots. Roots were subjected to irradiation at doses ranging from 100 to 2000 Gy. Potted I. batatas plants were inoculated with the irradiated nematodes and harvested after 3 months to evaluate nematode reproduction. No live R. reniformis were recovered from plants inoculated with J2 treated with 250 Gy or higher. Reproductive potential was reduced at radiation doses as low as 100 Gy compared with untreated controls.