Association of Globodera rostochiensis (Nematoda) with stunted and chlorotic potato plants in Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces in China.

Abstract

On a global basis, potato cyst nematodes Globodera spp. Skarbilovich, 1959 (Behrens, 1975) are one of the most serious soil-borne pathogens in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production. In 2019-2020, 188 soil samples were taken from rhizosphere soil associated with the roots of stunted and chlorotic potato plants in the main potato-growing areas of Yunnan and Sichuan provinces of China. G. rostochiensis Wollenweber, 1923 (Skarbilovich, 1959) was recovered from 112 of the samples. Nematode identification was as confirmed by morphometric, light microscopy, electron microscopy and molecular methodologies. Population densities of G. rostochiensis ranged from 47.0 to 69.0 eggs/g soil. A BLASTn homology search program was used to compare the sequences of populations of G. rostrochienses from Yunnan and Sichuan provinces with populations of other Heteroderinae spp. and populations of G. rostochiensis from other nations. While potatoes have been grown in China for at least 400 years and the nation produces more potatoes than any other country, potato cyst nematodes were not reported in China until 2022.