TECHNICAL SESSION: Population diversity of plant pathogenic nematodes
Studies on plant-parasitic nematodes in sugarbeet fields and host status of sugarbeet and rotational crops for Paratrichodorus allius
Ashmit KC - North Dakota State University, Department of Plant Pathology. Krishna Acharya- North Dakota State University, Department of Plant Pathology, Addison Plaisance- North Dakota State University, Department of Plant Pathology, Guiping Yan- North Dakota State University, Department of Plant Pathology
The Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota is one of the major sugarbeet production regions in the United States. However, no comprehensive study has been carried out for plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) in the region thus far. Hence, a field survey was conducted during 2016 and 2017 in sugarbeet production fields across 13 counties. The major genera of PPN identified from 217 soil samples were Heterodera, Helicotylenchus, Tylenchorhynchus, Paratylenchus, Pratylenchus, Paratrichodorus, Hoplolaimus, and Xiphinema. Eight of them were identified at the species level using species-specific PCR assays and/or amplification and sequencing of the ribosomal rDNA. The cyst nematodes analyzed from 31 samples were Heterodera glycines, and H. schachtii, a nematode known to cause damage to sugarbeet, was not identified. Among identified species, stubby root nematode, Paratrichodorus allius, is one of the important nematode pests for sugarbeet production worldwide. With little information on the host range of this nematode, a second study was conducted to determine the host status of sugarbeet and their rotational crops for P. allius under greenhouse conditions. The results indicated that almost all the sugarbeet and rotational crops supported the reproduction of P. allius in two trials with reproductive factors greater than one. This research is a critical first step towards developing effective pest management strategies in the infested sugarbeet fields to improve their productivity.