Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are considered the most aggressive, damaging, and economically important group of plant-parasitic nematodes and represent a significant limiting factor for potato (Solanum tuberosum) production and tuber quality. Meloidogyne luci has previously been shown to be a potato pest having significant reproductive potential on the potato. In this study we showed that M. luci may develop a latent infestation without visible symptoms on the tubers. This latent infestation may pose a high risk for uncontrolled spread of the pest, especially via seed potato. We developed efficient detection methods to prevent uncontrolled spread of M. luci via infested potato tubers. Using hyperspectral imaging and a molecular approach to detection of nematode DNA with real-time PCR, it was possible to detect M. luci in both heavily infested potato tubers and tubers without visible symptoms. Detection of infested tubers with hyperspectral imaging achieved a 100% success rate, regardless of tuber preparation. The real-time PCR approach detected M. luci with high sensitivity.
Highlights
Plant-parasitic nematodes are tiny animals, obligate biotrophic parasites that obtain their nutrients from plant cells
Several root-knot nematodes (RKN) species are capable of infesting the potato, Solanum tuberosum, where they cause the formation of root galls, surface galls on potato tubers and necrotic spots below the potato tuber skin
In the microplot cultivation setup, the eight potato plants infested with M. luci yielded potato tubers with a diameter of over 2 cm
Summary
Plant-parasitic nematodes are tiny animals, obligate biotrophic parasites that obtain their nutrients from plant cells. Several RKN species are capable of infesting the potato, Solanum tuberosum, where they cause the formation of root galls, surface galls on potato tubers and necrotic spots below the potato tuber skin. Two RKN species are listed on the quarantine list of the European. Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), M. chitwoodi and M. fallax, and they are considered the most important plant parasitic nematode pests of the potato. They can cause total yield losses due to quality defects and quarantine issues [1] but potato production can be threatened by other RKN species such as M. luci [2]. The pathogenicity of M. luci on the potato was studied in 16 commercial cultivars and all the cultivars were susceptible to M. luci, with relatively high pest reproduction factors, ranging from 12.5 to 72.9 [2]
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