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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #424044
Research Project: Disease Management in Small Fruit and Nursery Crops Based on Knowledge of Pathogen Diversity, Biology, and Environmental Effects

Location: Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit

Title: Biological Control of the Soybean Cyst Nematode (Heterodera glycines) Using Cyst Nematode Isolated Fungi

Author
item Zasada, Inga
item KUNWAR, V - Purdue University
item MO, C - Purdue University
item JUMBAM, B - Purdue University
item AIME, M - Purdue University
item ZHANG, L - Purdue University

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/14/2024
Publication Date: 9/4/2024
Citation: Zasada, I.A., Kunwar, V., Mo, C., Jumbam, B., Aime, M.C., Zhang, L. 2024. Biological Control of the Soybean Cyst Nematode (Heterodera glycines) Using Cyst Nematode Isolated Fungi. Phytopathology. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-03-24-0026-RS.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-03-24-0026-RS

Interpretive Summary: The soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) is recognized as the most destructive pathogen of soybean. Biological control of SCN using the fungi associated with cyst nematodes (Heteroderidae) could be a promising management strategy. In this study, we screened 75 fungal isolates representing 55 species associated with different cyst nematode (Globodera and Heterodera) species to assess antagonistic effects on SCN. A rapid 24-well plate in vitro assay was developed to evaluate fungal cell-free filtrates for their effect on SCN egg viability and hatch. Filtrates of 14 isolates significantly reduced egg viability and hatch by inducing “vacuole-like” structural aberrations in SCN eggs. These fungal isolates were further tested for their effect on SCN second-stage juveniles (J2) and direct egg parasitism. Filtrates of Alternaria tenuissima, Fusarium solani, Purpureocillium lilacinum, Debaryomyces hansenii, Plectosphaerella cucumerina, Arthopyrenia salicis, and Cosmospora lavitskiae resulted in the most significant reduction in egg viability. Filtrates of C. lavitskiae, D. hansenii, F. acaciae-mearnsii, and F. solani were the most toxic to SCN J2 in the mortality assay. Direct egg parasitism revealed that P. chlamydosporia, T. virens, and P. lilacinum exhibited the highest degree of SCN egg parasitism. Based on these in vitro assays, 10 promising fungal isolates were selected for evaluation in a soil-based experiment. T. virens, P. lilacinum, and P. chlamydosporia reduced SCN cyst and egg densities, while T. ramulosus, P. cucumerina, and C. lavitskiae provided moderate SCN suppression. These findings highlight the potential of nematophagous fungi isolated from cyst nematodes for integrated SCN management and offer a screening approach for identifying potent fungal biocontrol agents.

Technical Abstract: Plant-parasitic nematodes, microscopic roundworms, reduce the productivity of many agricultural crops, including soybean. Currently, management of the number one pest of soybean, the soybean cyst nematode, relies on the use of soybean plants that can resist the nematode; however, the soybean cyst nematode is finding ways to overcome plant resistance and therefore, alternative control methods are needed. Research was conducted to determine whether fungi can be used to kill nematodes. Several fungi were identified that killed the soybean cyst nematode. These findings will be used by scientists to further explore the use of fungi as an alternative method to control this damaging nematode to soybean.