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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #294967
Title: Nematode management in pecans

Author
item Nyczepir, Andrew
item Wood, Bruce

Submitted to: Pecan Grower
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2013
Publication Date: 5/9/2013
Citation: Nyczepir, A.P., Wood, B.W. 2013. Nematode management in pecans. Pecan Grower. 24(4):46-47,50-52.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In 2002, the pecan root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne partityla = PRKN) was found on pecan in the southeastern U.S. and was associated with stressed trees exhibiting dead branches in the upper canopy and (or) typical mouse ear (ME) associated foliar symptoms. This research evaluates the host susceptibility of certain common pecan seedling rootstocks for resistance or tolerance to PRKN. All nine open pollinated pecan rootstocks tested (i.e., ‘Apache’, ‘Caddo’, ‘Moneymaker’, ‘Pawnee’, ‘Schley’, ‘Stuart’, and ‘Wichita’ including two commercial pecan rootstocks ‘Curtis’ and ‘Elliott’) were good hosts (susceptible) to the PRKN. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the PRKN is pathogenic (i.e., causes a reduction in tree growth) toward these two primary commercial pecan rootstocks under field conditions. However, all five commercial peach rootstocks tested (i.e., Guardian®, ‘Lovell’, ‘Halford’, ‘Flordaguard’ and ‘Nemaguard’) are nonhosts (i.e., highly resistant) to PRKN. Interplanting pecan and peach trees in a commercial orchard environment does not appear to intensify PRKN soil population density between these two crops. The findings of this research indicate that the PRKN is a potentially economically important pathogen to the pecan industry in the southeastern U.S. and that the search for an IPM management strategy (i.e., biological, chemical, etc.) for control of this nematode pest on pecan is warranted.