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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #391371
Research Project: Molecular Systematics, Identification, Biology, and Management of Crop-Parasitic Nematodes

Location: Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory

Title: Commercial potato cultivars exhibit distinct susceptibility to the root lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans

Author
item FIGUEIREDO, JOANA - University Of Portugal
item Vieira, Paulo
item ABRANTES, ISABEL - University Of Portugal
item ESTEVES, IVANIA - University Of Portugal

Submitted to: Horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/9/2022
Publication Date: 3/12/2022
Citation: Figueiredo, J., Reis Vieira, P.C., Abrantes, I., Esteves, I. 2022. Commercial potato cultivars exhibit distinct susceptibility to the root lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans. Horticulturae. 8:244. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8030244.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8030244

Interpretive Summary: Worldwide crop losses due to plant-parasitic nematodes have been estimated at $118 billion annually, with root lesion nematodes, Pratylenchus spp., ranking third in terms of economic losses. The root lesion nematode P. penetrans is considered one of the most economically important species within the genus, and host range studies have shown that nearly 400 plant species can be parasitized by P. penetrans, including food crops such as potato. We report an overall assessment of nine commercial potato cultivars. The aim of this study was to find out the susceptibility of these potato cultivars to P. penetrans through the assessment of penetration, egression, and nematode reproduction. Knowledge on the potential host/non-host status of potato cultivars to this particular species will permit significant advances towards the management of these resilient pathogens.

Technical Abstract: The root lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans is an important plant-parasitic nematode of potato. In this study, the susceptibility of potato cultivars to P. penetrans was assessed. Nematode penetration was evaluated in cultivars Agria, Camel, Kennebec, Laura, Royata and Stemster, at 1/3/7/15 days after inoculation (DAI) with 750 nematodes/plant, egression at 3 DAI with 1,000 nematodes/plant and reproduction in cultivars Agata, Agria, Camel, Désirée, Dirosso, Kennebec, Laura, Picasso, Royata and Stemster at 60 DAI, in 2 L pots inoculated with 4 P. penetrans/g soil. Tenue or moderate cell browning to advanced necrotic areas were observed, and the number of nematodes/g root gradually increased with time of infection. A lower number of eggs and nematodes were observed within the roots of cultivar Laura in all assays comparatively to other cultivars. The susceptibility index (SI) was significantly lowest in Laura (0.4- 0.6), followed by Camel and Picasso (0.8-0.9). All remaining cultivars showed SI values above 1. Our data reveals that these cultivars have a distinct ability to support the reproduction of P. penetrans.