Optimal Levels of Meloidogyne incognita Inoculum for Infection of Tomato and Peach in Vitro

Authors

  • Ghazala Hashmi
  • Robin N. Huettel
  • Freddi A. Hammerschlag
  • Lorin R. Krusberg

Abstract

Penetration of second-stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne incognita into tomato root explants and in vitro propagated peach plantlet roots were compared. Five inoculum levels were used: 25, 50, 75, 100, and 200 J2 for tomato; and 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000J2 for peach. The greatest root penetration into tomato was 30% at the 75 J2 level, but the maximum penetration into peach roots was only 8% at the 200 J2 level. The difference (P = 0.05) in penetration of M. incognita at all inoculum levels into these two hosts indicates that penetration versus inoculum density for in vitro studies need to be determined for different plant species. Key words: inoculum level, in vitro culture, Lycopersicon esculentum, nematode, Prunus persica, rootknot nematode.

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Published

1994-12-15

Issue

Section

Articles