Host range and growth of Stem and Bulb Nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci) populations isolated from garlic and chicory

Abstract

Host range and growth of two <I>Ditylenchus dipsaci</I> (Stem and Bulb Nematode) populations on onion, garlic, leek, spinach and chicory were compared. Inoculation was conducted by placing a droplet of 1.5% CMC suspension containing nematodes between the first leaves. The life cycle of the parasite was completed in variants of the original host plants, i.e. salad chicory was infected with the chicory population, and garlic and onion with the garlic population. Survival of the nematodes on garlic and spinach inoculated with the chicory population, and on chicory inoculated with the garlic population was determined. Nematodes of the chicory population did not survive on onion and leek, nor did the garlic population survive on spinach and leek. Nematode infection did not affect the dry weight of aboveground parts of plants, although a reduction would probably occur if the experiments had lasted longer. Symptoms of the infections were apparent in chicory inoculated with the chicory population. Nematodes in the substrate in which the plants were grown were found only in those variants with plants in which the life cycle was completed.