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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #148027
Title: ROOT-KNOT NEMATODES: A POTENTIAL PROBLEM ON VIDALIA ONIONS

Author
item Davis, Richard
item LANGSTON, D - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Submitted to: Society of Nematologists Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2003
Publication Date: 9/1/2003
Citation: Davis, R.F., Langston, D.B. 2003. Root-knot nematodes: A potential problem on vidalia onion [abstract]. Journal of Nematology. 35:333.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Vidalia onions may be one of many cultivars of yellow Granex onions produced in a region, defined by law, surrounding Vidalia, GA. Unidentified Meloidogyne species are sometimes found at high densities in onion fields. Our objective was to evaluate the suitability of onion (Allium cepa cv. Sweet Vidalia) as a host for Meloidogyne incognita, M. arenaria, and M. javanica, which are commonly found in Georgia. Nematode reproduction was evaluated in two greenhouse trials with six replications each. Single onion transplants were put into individual 15-cm-diam pots and allowed to grow for 5 or 7 weeks prior to inoculation of the first and second trials, respectively. Each pot was inoculated with 8,000 eggs of one nematode species. Reproduction was measured by extracting and counting eggs from onion roots 54 days after inoculation in both the first and second trials. Relative reproduction differed between trials (P<0.05), so data were analyzed separately. All three nematode species increased with final egg counts of 19,300 for M. incognita, 32,100 for M. arenaria, and 40,350 for M. javanica in the first trial and 167,200 for M. incognita, 71,600 for M. arenaria, and 101,950 for M. javanica in the second trial. Final egg counts were similar (P>0.05) among the three species in the first trial, but M. incognita produced more eggs (P<0.05) than M. arenaria in the second trial. Onion can be a good host for all three Meloidogyne species tested, but reproduction and damage in the field may be limited by soil temperatures.