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Title: PLANT-PARASITIC NEMATODES ASSOCIATED WITH SWITCHGRASS (PANICUM VIRGATUM L.) GROWN FOR BIOFUEL IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL UNITED STATES

Author
item Cassida, Kimberly
item KIRKPATRICK, T - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item ROBBINS, R - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item MUIR, JAMES - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item Venuto, Bradley
item HUSSEY, MARK - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Nematropica
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/11/2005
Publication Date: 11/5/2005
Citation: Cassida, K.A., Kirkpatrick, T.L., Robbins, R.T., Muir, J.P., Venuto, B.C., Hussey, M.A. 2005. Plant-parasitic nematodes associated with switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum l.) grown for biofuel in the south central United States. Nematropica Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 1-10.

Interpretive Summary: Switchgrass, a native American plant, exhibits good yield and quality potential as a biofuel crop, but is consistently difficult to establish and often shows unexpectedly low yields in the south central part of the USA. Plant-parasitic soil nematodes were investigated as a potential contributor to this problem by surveying nematode populations under established switchgrass varieties at four locations in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Plant-parasitic nematodes were associated with switchgrass at all locations, and the most pathogenic species were correlated with varieties and locations that had exhibited the most severe stand declines over time. This work is useful because it provides new information regarding a potential site and yield limitation for switchgrass biofuel crops. The work will help researchers to improve management recommendations, plant breeders to improve pest tolerance, and producers/energy generators to select appropriate sites for switchgrass production.

Technical Abstract: Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has attracted attention as a potential biofuel crop, but stand establishment can be difficult. Plant-parasitic nematodes have been suggested as contributors to this problem in the South Central US, but nematode populations associated with switchgrass have never been described. Plant-parasitic nematodes were identified from both soil and roots of samples collected after fall biomass harvest from five-year-old switchgrass variety trial plots located in Clinton, LA, Hope, AR, College Station, TX, and Stephenville, TX. Xiphenema americanum and Tylenchorhynchus spp. (T. capitatus and T. ewingi) were found at all locations. Paratrichodorus minor and Criconemella ornata were found in three of four sites. Hoplolaimus magnistylus, Pratylenchus zeae, Helicotylenchus spp. (H. dihystera and H. digonius), Meloidogyne sp., and Paratylencus sp. were identified from some sites. Upland morphological types of switchgrass supported greater densities of Helicotylenchus spp. than lowland types at Clinton and greater densities of Pratylenchus and Tylenchorhynchus spp. at Hope. Lowland types appeared to be better hosts for Tylenchorhynchus spp. at Stephenville. Differences in host suitability among switchgrass genotypes were found for several nematode species, and in some cases the nematodes were correlated with decreased stand persistence or dry matter yield.