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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #310841
Title: Impact of Pratylenchus penetrans on establishment of red raspberry

Author
item Zasada, Inga
item Weiland, Gerald - Jerry
item HAN, Z - Oregon State University
item WALTERS, TOM - Washington State University
item MOORE, PATRICK - Washington State University

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/24/2014
Publication Date: 7/1/2015
Citation: Zasada, I.A., Weiland, G.E., Han, Z., Walters, T.W., Moore, P.P. 2015. Impact of Pratylenchus penetrans on establishment of red raspberry. Plant Disease. 99(7):939-946.

Interpretive Summary: Plant-parasitic nematodes are microscopic soil worms that attack raspberry plants and cause significant loss in yield to this crop annually. In red raspberry, the nematode responsible for damage to this crop is the root lesion nematode. This research was conducted to determine the impact of the root lesion nematode on the establishment and productivity of eight raspberry cultivars. Raspberry plants were established in soil either containing or not containing the nematode and plant productivity and nematode populations were monitored over a three year period. All of the raspberry cultivars were found to be extremely susceptible to damage caused by the root lesion nematode. By the end of the experiment yield loss across cultivars was at least 63%. These results are significant because they indicate that root lesion nematode must be managed prior to planting to avoid a reduction in establishment and productivity of raspberry. This research will be by used scientists and farmers to manage root lesion nematode in raspberry fields.

Technical Abstract: The plant-parasitic nematode, Pratylenchus penetrans, is a major constraint to red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) production. To determine the impact of P. penetrans on the establishment and productivity of eight raspberry cultivars, Rubus niveus, and R. leucodermis, plants were grown in fumigated and nonfumigated soil. Then, soil and root populations of P. penetrans and plant productivity (vigor, cane height and biomass, yield) were monitored over two years. In a separate experiment, the role that soil type plays in mediating P. penetrans populations and raspberry establishment was investigated. Six and 12 months after planting, population densities of P. penetrans were lower in fumigated than in nonfumigated soil; this trend continued 18 months after planting. All cultivars and R. leucodermis were found to be extremely susceptible to damage caused by P. penetrans. By the end of the experiment, yield was the most sensitive indicator of plant productivity among cultivars with losses in nonfumigated soil ranging from 63% to 100% of those observed in fumigated soil. However, there was no difference in the productivity of R. niveus plants grown in nonfumigated vs. fumigated soils. Results also indicated that the damage potential of P. penetrans is greater on sandy loam vs. silt loam soils. The total plant biomass of the cultivar Meeker was consistently 46% lower in a sandy loam soil containing P. penetrans compared to soil without P. penetrans, but this trend was not observed consistently in a silt loam soil. Despite the fact that fumigation is increasingly limited by regulations, this study shows the utility of fumigation in reducing P. penetrans populations for a sufficient period of time to ensure that newly planted raspberry fields can become established.