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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #377242
Research Project: Genetics and Integrated Management of Plant Parasitic Nematodes in Cotton and Peanut

Location: Crop Genetics and Breeding Research

Title: Effectiveness of Pasteura penetrans applied to seed or furrow

Author
item LIU, CHANG - University Of Florida
item Timper, Patricia - Patty

Submitted to: Nematropica
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/4/2020
Publication Date: 11/16/2020
Citation: Liu, C., Timper, P. 2020. Effectiveness of Pasteura penetrans applied to seed or furrow. Nematropica. 50:229-232.

Interpretive Summary: Root-knot nematodes (RKN) cause yield losses in numerous crop plants. Pasteuria penetrans is a bacterium which parasites these nematodes. Spores of Pasteuria attach to the cuticle of RKN juveniles as they migrate through soil in search of roots to infect. The bacterium subsequently sterilizes the infected female. Previously, we showed that prior exposure of RKN juveniles to root exudates led to reduced attachment of Pasteuria spores suggesting that nematodes encountering spores within the root zone may be more resistant to spore attachment than are nematodes encountering spores outside the root zone. This study compared the effect of applying 300,000 Pasteuria spores in furrow versus with the seed at planting on egg production by RKN in greenhouse pots. The results showed that Pasteuria spores applied by either method reduced nematode reproduction compared to the untreated control; however, in furrow application reduced egg production more than spores applied along with the seed (57.3% vs 35.6% reduction). Greater exposure of the RKN juveniles to root exudates in the seed compared to the furrow application may explain the difference in application methods. Additionally, furrow application may distribute the spores over a greater area than seed applications, increasing the chances of juveniles acquiring spores further from the roots which may hinder their ability to infect the roots.

Technical Abstract: Pasteuria penetrans is a parasite of root-knot nematodes. Endospores of P. penetrans attach to the cuticle of second-stage juveniles (J2) and subsequently sterilize the infected female. Previously, we showed that prior exposure of Meloidogyne arenaria J2 to root exudates led to reduced attachment of P. penetrans spores suggesting that nematodes encountering spores within the root zone may be more resistant to spore attachment than are nematodes encountering spores outside the root zone. This study compared the effect of applying 3 x 105 P. penetrans spores in furrow versus with the seed at planting on egg production by M. arenaria in greenhouse pots. The results showed that P. penetrans spores applied by either method reduced nematode reproduction compared to the untreated control; however, in furrow application reduced egg production more than spores applied along with the seed (57.3% vs 35.6% reduction). Greater exposure of the J2 to root exudates in the seed compared to the furrow application may explain the difference in application methods. Additionally, furrow application may distribute the spores over a greater area than seed applications, increasing the chances of J2 acquiring spores further from the roots which may impede their ability to infect the roots.