Location: Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research
Project Number: 6034-21000-020-006-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 2, 2022
End Date: Nov 30, 2024
Objective:
Identify the relative resistance or tolerance of current and potential rootstocks to the sting nematode.
Approach:
Sting nematodes recovered from a citrus grove will be used to infested autoclaved sandy soil in large tanks constructed in our greenhouse in which bermudagrass is grown as a food source. Initial screens for resistance and tolerance will occur by planting 6-inch seedlings in these containers with or without nematodes. Root damage and seeding growth in presence or absence of nematodes will be evaluated. All USDA and UF rootstocks of commercial use or potential interest will be screened. Promising material will be evaluated under more highly controlled conditions in replicated clay pots to determine the growth of nematodes (resistance) and plants (tolerance) in the presence or absence of nematodes.
