FURTHER ELUCIDATION OF THE HOST RANGE OF GLOBODERA ELLINGTONAE
Abstract
Globodera ellingtonae was first discovered in Oregon and Idaho in 2008 and described as a new species in 2012. Knowledge of the host range of this nematode is limited, with only tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) reported as hosts. This study was conducted to expand the information available on the host range of G. ellingtonae. In greenhouse studies, a range of agricultural Solanaceous and non-solanaceous crop plants and Solanaceous weeds were inoculated with G. ellingtonae and nematode reproduction was determined after four months. Crops historically grown in rotation with potato at the site where G. ellingtonae was discovered in Oregon, alfalfa (Medicago sativa), wheat (Triticum aestievum), and oat (Avena sativa) were all non-hosts for the nematodes. None of the Solanaceous crop plants evaluated, Capsicum annum (bell and jalepeno pepper), Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco varietiies), Physalis philadelphica (tomatillo), or Solanum melagena (eggplant) were hosts for G. ellingtonae; leaving tomato and potato as the only Solanaceous crops demonstrated to be hosts for G. ellingtonae. All of the Solanceous weed species evaluated, Solanum nigrum, Solanum dulcamara, and Solanum rostratum were hosts for G. ellingtonae with final population density/initial population density (Pf/Pi) values ranging from 1.5 to 27.0. The trap crop Solanum sisymbriifolium was a non-host for the nematode.