Effects of pastueria penetrans endospore rate of attachment on root penetration and fecundity of meloidogyne arenaria race 1
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Date
2006
Authors
Kariuki, George M.
Dickson, D. W.
Brito, J. A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
NEMATROPICA
Abstract
Pasteuria penetrans
is an obligate mycelial endospore-forming bacterial parasite of root-knot nematodes
that has shown great potential for their biological control. Endospores of
P. penetrans
attach
to the cuticle of second-stage juveniles (J2) of
Meloidogyne
spp. when they move through soil in search
of a host. The percentage of J2 with endospores attached and number of endospores per J2 are correlated
with infection in adults and therefore are often used as an indirect measure of biocontrol potential.
This study was carried out to test the effect of different rates of endospore attachment on the
ability of root-knot nematodes to penetrate a host, produce galls and the nematode’s fecundity under
environmentally controlled conditions. Different attachment levels were achieved using different ratios
of J2 to endospores. The number of J2 penetrating host roots was highest in the control where
the J2 were not exposed to
P
.
penetrans
endospores and lowest at higher endospore attachment levels
of 10.2 and 18.1. As few as 3.5 endospores/J2 reduced their ability to infect roots. Egg mass numbers
were reduced by higher levels of endospore attachment but galling was not. This study confirms that
P. penetrans
induced soil suppressiveness is dependent on endospore concentrations and is manifested
at the level of root penetration by J2 and loss of nematode fecundity
Description
research paper
Keywords
suppressive soil, penetration, Pasteuria penetrans, fecundity, biological control, attachment
Citation
NEMATROPICA Vol. 36, No. 2, 2006