HOST STATUS AND HATCHING EFFECT OF HEMP (CANNABIS SATIVA) AND TEFF (ERAGROSTIS TEF) ON GLOBODERA PALLIDA

Abstract

The potato cyst nematode, Globodera pallida, is a regulated pest found in the United States only in the potato-growing areas of Idaho. Growers are interested in producing hemp (Cannabis sativa) and teff (Eragrostis tef) in G. pallida-infested fields. However, the host status of these two crops for G. pallida has not yet been evaluated. There is also interest in trap crops to help control G. pallida, which must be nonhosts that induce hatch of the nematode. This study investigated host status and hatching effect of hemp and teff on G. pallida through in vivo greenhouse experiments and in vitro assays. Both hemp and teff were nonhosts that did not induce hatch of G. pallida. Based on these results, hemp and teff are not trap crops for G. pallida but can be grown in infested fields because they are nonhosts.