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A Technique for Screening Grape Germplasm for Resistance to Meloidogyne incognita

A technique to evaluate the root-knot nematode resistance of grape seedlings was developed. Seedlings of rootstock crosses and nematode-susceptible Vitis vinifera cvs. Colombard and Carignane were inoculated with Meloidogyne incognita juveniles. Reproduction of nematodes on individual plants was measured by counting the number of egg masses stained with eosin and the number of eggs present. Egg mass counts were highly correlated with egg counts. Resistant and susceptible cultivars could be clearly distinguished by the number of egg masses produced on vegetatively propagated cuttings. It is concluded that egg mass counting can substitute for the more laborious and time-consuming methods of counting nematode eggs or juveniles in the evaluation of root-knot nematode resistance in Vitis.