VIEW ARTICLE

Pathogenicity of Pratylenchus brachyurus and Pythium graminicola to Sugarcane. Hideo Koike, Research Microbiologist, Crops Research Division, ARS, USDA, Gurabo, Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico 00928, Present address of senior author: Research Plant Pathologist, Crops Research Division, ARS, USDA, Houma, Louisiana 70360; Jesse Roman, Associate Nematologist, Department of Entomology and Nematology, Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico 00928. Phytopathology 60:1562-1565. Accepted for publication 1 June 1970. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-60-1562.

The root lesion nematode Pratylenchus brachyurus produced a significant reduction in top growth of sugarcane in greenhouse experiments. The root-rotting fungus Pythium graminicola significantly reduced top and root growth. When plants were grown in the presence of both pathogens, reduction in dry wt were the same as those caused by the root-rotting fungus alone. This is the first report of the pathogenicity of P. brachyurus to sugarcane, and of the isolation of and pathogenicity of P. graminicola to sugarcane in Puerto Rico.