Author
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Burelle, Nancy |
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Submitted to: Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 8/24/2015 Publication Date: 9/1/2015 Citation: Burelle, N.K. 2015. Pasteuria penetrans for control of Meloidogyne incognita on tomato and cucumber, and M. arenaria on snapdragon. Journal of Nematology. 47(3):192-198. Interpretive Summary: Root-knot nematodes are important parasites of vegetable and ornamental crops. Experiments were conducted to test commercial formulations of a new biocontrol agent, Pasteuria penetrans, for root-knot nematode control on tomato, cucumber, and snapdragon. Three methods of application methods were assessed for the biocontrol agent including seed, transplant, and post-plant treatments. Control of root galling and nematode reproduction was evaluated. In greenhouse cucumber trials, all Pasteuria treatments were equivalent to the steam control for reducing nematode populations in roots and soil and reducing nematode reproduction and galling compared to the untreated control. In cucumber microplot trials there were no differences among treatments for nematode populations in roots or soil, eggs/g root, or root condition ratings. Nematode reproduction on cucumber was low with a nematicide control and with the seed treatment plus post-plant application of Pasteuria, which had the lowest nematode reproduction. However, galling for all Pasteuria treatments was higher than galling with nematicide. Root-knot nematode control with Pasteuria under the greenhouse and microplot environments of these studies varied on tomato and snapdragon. Positive results were achieved for nematode control with the seed treatment application on cucumber. Technical Abstract: Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne arenaria, are important parasitic nematodes of vegetable and ornamental crops. Field microplot and greenhouse experiments were conducted to test commercial formulations of the biocontrol agent Pasteuria penetrans for control of M. incognita on tomato and cucumber and M. arenaria on snapdragon. Three methods of application for P. penetrans were assessed including seed, transplant, and post-plant treatments. Efficacy in controlling galling and reproduction of the two root-knot nematode species was evaluated. Seed treatment application was assessed only for M. incognita on cucumber. Pasteuria treatment rates of the granular transplant formulation ranged from 50,000 endospores/cm3 to 300,000 endospores/cm3 of transplant mix applied at seeding. Additional applications of 50,000 endospores/cm3 of soil were applied as a liquid formulation to soil post-transplant for both greenhouse and microplot trials. In greenhouse cucumber trials, all Pasteuria treatments were equivalent to the steam control for reducing M. incognita populations in roots and soil and reducing nematode reproduction and galling compared to the untreated control. In cucumber microplot trials there were no differences among treatments for M. incognita populations in roots or soil, eggs/g root, or root condition ratings. Nematode reproduction on cucumber was low with Telone II and with the seed treatment plus post-plant application of Pasteuria, which had the lowest nematode reproduction. However, galling for all Pasteuria treatments was higher than galling with Telone II. Root-knot nematode control with Pasteuria under the greenhouse and microplot environments of these studies varied on tomato and snapdragon. Positive results were achieved for control of M. incognita with the seed treatment application on cucumber. Further trials which evaluate the conditions that favor successful nematode control with Pasteuria are needed. |
