Distribution of three Pratylenchus species in chrysanthemum fields in the Kyushu-Okinawa region of southern Japan, with notes on their identification based on PCR-RFLP analysis.

Abstract

A survey to detect three Pratylenchus species, P. kumamotoensis, P. penetrans and P. pseudocoffeae, was conducted in chrysanthemum fields in the Kyushu-Okinawa region of southern Japan from 2005 to 2007. PCR-RFLP analysis was used for identification of extracted root lesion nematodes. The three species could be distinguished from one another by digestion patterns of Alu I, Hha I, Hinf I, or Taq I in a preliminary experiment and as a result Alu I and Hinf I were used for species identification in the field survey. A total of 86 soil samples were collected, and 38 samples (44%) were infested with root lesion nematodes. Pratylenchus kumamotoensis was detected most frequently (29%) and considered the most important root lesion nematode in this region. Detection rates of P. penetrans and P. pseudocoffeae were 22% and 9%, respectively. Pratylenchus penetrans was detected from Okinawa Prefecture for the first time.