Identification and prevalence of potato cyst nematodes and root-knot nematodes in the potato production areas of İzmir Province, Turkey

Abstract

Globodera spp. and Meloidogyne spp. were identified using morphological and molecular methods. Also, the distribution and population densities of these nematodes were determined in potato cultivation areas of İzmir (Turkey) in 2015. Two hundred and twenty-three soil samples were collected during the survey and 32 samples were found to be infested with Globodera spp. and 41 samples with Meloidogyne spp. The identification of nematodes was made morphologically using perennial patterns of cyst/female individuals and morphometrics of second stage juveniles. Also, species specific primers were used for molecular identification. Only Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber, 1923) Skarbilovich, 1959 (Tylenchida: Heteroderidae) were found in the samples that contained cyst nematodes. Also, the root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne chitwoodi Golden, O'Bannon, Santo & Finley, 1980, Meloidogyne hapla (Chitwood, 1949), Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949, and Meloidogyne javanica (Treub, 1885) Chitwood, 1949 (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) were found. The prevalence rates of Meloidogyne species were determined as 2.4, 12.2, 61.0 and 24.4%, respectively. In terms of the number of individuals in soil, all G. rostochiensis (10 eggs/g soil) and M. chitwoodi (1 juvenile/250 cm 3 soil) population levels were detected above the economic damage thresholds for potato production. Also, two populations of M. incognita (0.5-2 juvenile/250 cm 3 soil) were found above the specified threshold levels.