Research Article Received: 11 May 2011
Revised: 24 August 2011
Accepted article published: 8 September 2011
Published online in Wiley Online Library: 7 November 2011
(wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI 10.1002/ps.2316
Screening of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) for resistance against temperate root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) Wim ML Wesemaela∗ and Maurice Moensa,b Abstract BACKGROUND: An important part of the production area of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Belgium is located on the sandy soils of the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg where Meloidogyne chitwoodi (Golden), M. fallax (Karssen) and M. hapla (Chitwood) are present. The host plant status of ten bean cultivars for root-knot nematodes was determined by evaluating penetration, development and egg mass formation after inoculation with second-stage juveniles. RESULTS: The tested cultivars were poor to good hosts for M. chitwoodi, non-hosts or bad hosts for M. fallax and excellent hosts for M. hapla. Significantly fewer M. fallax were found in the roots, and their development was delayed. Penetration of M. hapla took place over a longer period than that of M. chitwoodi and M. fallax. The number of mature females of M. chitwoodi in cv. Polder 6 weeks after inoculation was no different from that in other cultivars, although fewer egg masses were found on this cultivar in the screening test. There was no influence of M. chitwoodi on vegetative growth of cv. Polder. CONCLUSION: The differences found in host plant status of bean cultivars stress the importance of a correct diagnosis of the Meloidogyne species in agricultural fields. Cultivar Polder showed potential as a trap crop for M. chitwoodi. c 2011 Society of Chemical Industry Keywords: Meloidogyne chitwoodi; Meloidogyne fallax; Meloidogyne hapla; resistance; trap crop; common bean
1
INTRODUCTION
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The use of resistant cultivars is an important strategy to overcome major problems with plant pathogens and parasites. Growing resistant crops offers an environmentally friendly alternative for pest management. In nematology, plant resistance has increased in importance with the phasing out of soil fumigants. However, resistance is not widely used. Cook and Starr1 suggest four possible reasons: some reports of resistance may not have been accurate; the currently available resistance is often linked to undesirable characteristics; the costs of developing resistant cultivars are not justified by the importance of the nematode problem; naturally occurring genetic resistance tends to be too specific for use in intensive agriculture. Also, the durability of resistant cultivars can be limited. Long-term use of nematode-resistant cultivars can induce shifts in races within nematode species, resulting in different pathotypes.2 – 5 Dealing with resistance, tolerance and host suitability requires a clear definition of these terms. Cook and Evans6 defined a plant that allows no nematode reproduction as completely resistant, and a plant that allows nematodes to multiply freely as non-resistant or susceptible. They described a tolerant plant as a plant that suffers little injury even when heavily infected with nematodes, and an intolerant plant as a plant that suffers much injury. Resistance and tolerance are independent qualities of a host plant. Host suitability is less well defined. The host suitability or host plant status is often divided into different categories from excellent host, good host and moderate host to poor host and non-host. This classification can be based on different features. The two most
Pest Manag Sci 2012; 68: 702–708
commonly used methods for Meloidogyne spp. are: the nematode reproduction factor and the egg mass index. The reproduction factor is calculated by dividing the final nematode population density (Pf ) after exposure of the plant to nematodes by the initial population density (Pi). If Pf /Pi > 1, then the plant is considered to be a host; when Pf /Pi < 1, the plant is often categorised as a non-host. However, the latter does not necessarily mean that nematodes are not able to reproduce. A large Pi may result in a small Pf owing to strong competition between nematodes,6 thereby demonstrating that nematode multiplication is density dependent. Monitoring the development of egg masses might be a better method for evaluating whether root-knot nematodes are able to reproduce. Moreover, it is easier because no nematode extraction is required and direct observation is possible. Resistance against Meloidogyne spp. has been reported in several herbaceous and woody plants and annual and perennial crops in tropical and temperate regions.1 Resistance for M. chitwoodi was reported in wheat7 and more recently found in wild potatoes Solanum bulbocastanun, S. hougasii8 and S. fendleri9 and in
∗
Correspondence to: Wim ML Wesemael, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 96, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. E-mail:
[email protected]
a Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Merelbeke, Belgium b Laboratory for Agrozoology, Ghent University, Belgium
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c 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Screening bean for Meloidogyne resistance
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pepper.10 Reports from the Netherlands indicate possible resistance in cultivars of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).11 In Belgium, common bean is mainly grown for the freezing and the canning industry. In 2008, a total area of 5361 ha yielded 62 598 t.12 Part of the production area is located in the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg where M. chitwoodi and M. fallax have been detected in several fields.13 In the present paper, the host suitability of different bean cultivars for M. chitwoodi is discussed on the basis of the ability of the nematode to develop inside bean roots with the subsequent production of egg masses. The production of egg masses of M. chitwoodi on bean cultivars is compared with the egg mass production of two other temperate Meloidogyne species, namely M. fallax and M. hapla. These experiments were conducted in small recipients in a glasshouse. The influence of M. chitwoodi infection on vegetative plant growth was examined in a pot experiment in a glasshouse, and the reproduction factor of M. chitwoodi on two cultivars was determined under field conditions.
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MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1 Screening To determine the host suitability for M. chitwoodi, M. fallax and M. hapla on ten cultivars of common bean (cultivars Cantare, Flagrano, Fulvio, Jamaica, Lipsos, Masai, Mercana, Polder, Proton and Verbano), 40 plants per cultivar were grown individually in plastic folding tubes (15 × 20 × 120 mm) in a temperature-controlled glasshouse (20–26 ◦ C) with a daily 14 h light period. The tubes were filled with sterilised (100 ◦ C, 18 h) sandy soil. In each tube, one seed was sown. Plants were watered daily with an atomiser as required. At 3 and 6 weeks after sowing, plants were fertilised with a liquid fertiliser (NPK 7-46, 5 mL L−1 ; Bayer Crop Science, Monheim am Rhein, Germany). At 1 week after emergence, each plant was inoculated with a suspension of approximately 200 freshly hatched (
