Shade Tobacco Yield Loss and Globodera tabacum tabacum Population Changes in Relation to Initial Nematode Density

Abstract

Field microplot experiments were conducted from 1987 to 1992 to determine the relationship between fresh weight leaf yield of shade tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and initial density of Globodera tabacum tabacum (encysted J2 per cm³ soil). Initial nematode densities of 0.1 to 1,097 J2/cm³ soil were negatively correlated with leaf yield, total shoot weight, and normalized plant height 5 to 6 weeks after transplanting (r = -0.73, -0.73, and -0.52, respectively). Nonlinear damage functions were used to relate initial G. t. tabacum densities to the yield and shoot weight data. The model described leaf yield losses of 5 % for initial nematode densities of less than 100 J2/cm³ soil. Densities above 100 J2 resulted in yields decreasing exponentially to a maximum yield loss of 40% at 500 to 1,000 J2/cm³ soil. A similar initial density tolerance threshold relationship was observed for total shoot weight. No threshold effect was evident for standardized plant height, which was a poor predictor of leaf yield. Globodera tabacum tabacum population increase over a growing season was described by a linear relation on a log/log plot (R² = 0.73). Key words: damage function, Globodera tabacum tabacum, nematode, Nicotiana tabacum, population dynamics, tobacco, tobacco cyst nematode.