Pratylenchus Penetrans Research Articles

Low-volume irrigation systems influence Pratylenchus penetrans populations, root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and replant establishment of sweet cherry

Abstract A four-year study was conducted to establish the effects of drip and microsprinkler irrigation systems on populations of Pratylenchus penetrans, early plant growth, and fruit yield of sweet cherry trees planted into soil previously used for apple production. The effects of irrigation type on root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, the abundance of soil microbial antagonists, soil biological suppressiveness, plant nutrition, and soil water content were also evaluated. Trees that received drip irrigation had larger trunk diameters than trees irrigated with microsprinklers throughout the first four years of orchard establishment, with greater total fruit yield also observed with drip irrigation in the fourth growing season. Populations of P. penetrans in soil and roots were smaller under drip irrigation than microsprinkler. Trees irrigated using drip emitters had higher per cent root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi than those irrigated by microsprinklers, and had a greater density of fine roots in soil. Drip irrigation also increased soil volumetric water content in the root zone, with soil moisture content often approaching or exceeding field water-holding capacity relative to that of microsprinklers. Overall, drip irrigation shows potential as a component of an integrated pest management strategy for reducing the effect of P. penetrans on newly planted sweet cherry.

Correction to: Sequence variation in ribosomal DNA and in the nuclear hsp90 gene of Pratylenchus penetrans (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae) populations and phylogenetic analysis

Correction to: Sequence variation in ribosomal DNA and in the nuclear hsp90 gene of Pratylenchus penetrans (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae) populations and phylogenetic analysis

Sequence variation in ribosomal DNA and in the nuclear hsp90 gene of Pratylenchus penetrans (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae) populations and phylogenetic analysis

Results Paragraph: Ribosomal sequence characterization. Fig. 1: This figure is missing and the legend of Fig. 1 is erroneously labeled as Fig. 2, and associated to the phylogenetic tree which corresponds to Fig. 2.

Identification of candidate effector genes of Pratylenchus penetrans.

Pratylenchus penetrans is one of the most important species of root lesion nematodes (RLNs) because of its detrimental and economic impact in a wide range of crops. Similar to other plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs), P.penetrans harbours a significant number of secreted proteins that play key roles during parasitism. Here, we combined spatially and temporally resolved next-generation sequencing datasets of P.penetrans to select a list of candidate genes aimed at the identification of a panel of effector genes for this species. We determined the spatial expression of transcripts of 22 candidate effectors within the oesophageal glands of P.penetrans by insitu hybridization. These comprised homologues of known effectors of other PPNs with diverse putative functions, as well as novel pioneer effectors specific to RLNs. It is noteworthy that five of the pioneer effectors encode extremely proline-rich proteins. We then combined insitu localization of effectors with available genomic data to identify a non-coding motif enriched in promoter regions of a subset of P.penetrans effectors, and thus a putative hallmark of spatial expression. Expression profiling analyses of a subset of candidate effectors confirmed their expression during plant infection. Our current results provide the most comprehensive panel of effectors found for RLNs. Considering the damage caused by P.penetrans, this information provides valuable data to elucidate the mode of parasitism of this nematode and offers useful suggestions regarding the potential use of P.penetrans-specific target effector genes to control this important pathogen.

Contribution of a Winter Wheat Cover Crop to the Maintenance of Root Lesion Nematode Populations in the Red Raspberry Production System

One of the primary production challenges red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) growers in the Pacific northwestern United States confront is root lesion nematode [RLN (Pratylenchus penetrans)]. In this perennial production system, red raspberry serves as a sustained host for RLN. When a red raspberry planting is slated for removal in the fall, a new red raspberry planting quickly follows in the same field the following spring. The primary crop that occurs in rotation with red raspberry is a winter wheat cover crop to provide soil coverage and protection during the winter. The objectives of this research were to determine if winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) provides a green bridge for RLN in continuous red raspberry production systems and to determine if modified winter cover cropping practices can be used to reduce population densities of RLN before replanting red raspberry. Four trials were established in fields being replanted to red raspberry and the following modified winter cover cropping practices were considered: cover crop planting date (at fumigation or 2 weeks after fumigation), termination date (cover crop kill with herbicide 2 or 6 weeks before incorporation compared with the industry standard of incorporation immediately before planting), and the additional application of methomyl. ‘Rosalyn’ and ‘Bobtail’ winter wheat planted as cover crops in these trials were demonstrated to be maintenance hosts for RLN (ranging from 10 to 947 RLN/g winter wheat root across trials) allowing them to be a green bridge for RLN to infect the following red raspberry crop. Altering winter wheat cover crop planting date, termination date with herbicide, or methomyl application did not affect RLN population densities in the subsequent red raspberry crop. Although planting an RLN maintenance host may be of concern to growers, the advantages of reduced soil erosion and nitrate leaching associated with cover cropping outweigh the perceived risk to the subsequent red raspberry crop.

Investigation of resistance to Pratylenchus penetrans and P. thornei in international wheat lines and its durability when inoculated together with the cereal cyst nematode Heterodera avenae, using qPCR for nematode quantification

The root lesion nematodes Pratylenchus penetrans and P. thornei cause high yield losses in rain-fed wheat fields in Morocco, as well as worldwide. Growing resistant varieties is one of the most effective methods for controlling nematodes. Therefore, a collection of 14 lines of spring wheat and 11 lines of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum and T. durum), provided by CIMMYT, were screened for resistance to P. penetrans and P. thornei in tubes (15 × 20 × 120 mm3) under greenhouse conditions. The resistance level was evaluated based on the numbers of nematodes extracted from roots and soil 9 weeks after infestation. Three lines (L9, L12 and L13) were found moderately resistant (reproduction factor < 1) to P. thornei and one of these (L9) was also moderately resistant to P. penetrans. To investigate the durability of this resistance, we co-inoculated juveniles of Heterodera avenae, a cereal cyst nematode widely present in Moroccan wheat fields, and assessed the reproduction of both lesion nematodes on the three lines. Our results showed that the lines L9, L12, L13 remained moderately resistant in the presence of H. avenae. Moreover, the numbers of Pratylenchus spp. were generally lower when plants were co-inoculated with H. avenae. The number of P. penetrans or P. thornei were determined visually using a microscope and with a qPCR assay. The counts with qPCR were even lower than microscopic counts. These findings on resistance are promising but the field performance of these lines against root lesion nematode attacks should be evaluated.

Effectiveness of Nontarped Broadcast Fumigation and Root Removal on Root Lesion Nematode and Fusarium and Pythium Species in a Red Raspberry System

Improved methods for the management of soil-borne pathogens are needed in the raspberry production system in the Pacific Northwest. A multiyear experiment was conducted in a commercial raspberry field in northwest Washington with the following objectives: (i) to determine if the standard industry fumigation treatment of nontarped broadcast application of 1,3-dichloropropene/chloropicrin (Telone C-35) is effective against Pratylenchus penetrans and Pythium and Fusarium species; (ii) to determine if root removal prior to nontarped broadcast fumigation with Telone C-35 improves management of P. penetrans and Fusarium and Pythium species; and (iii) to identify microbes that have the potential to be soil-borne pathogens through microbial community analysis. Fumigation alone briefly reduced population densities of P. penetrans but was ineffective at reducing existing, pretreatment populations of Fusarium and Pythium. However, populations of these two genera were lower in fumigated than in nonfumigated plots for at least 6 months after fumigation. Root removal did not enhance fumigant efficacy under the conditions of the experiment. Ilyonectria (Cylindrocarpon) was found to be more dominant in the fungal community of nonfumigated roots and rhizosphere soil compared with fumigated. These results demonstrate that P. penetrans, Fusarium, and Pythium rapidly rebound after nontarped broadcast fumigation in raspberry with the industry standard Telone C-35.

An improved protocol for quantification of root-lesion nematode infection in Barley

In green house conditions, an improved protocol for testing barley plants against root lesion nematode (RLN) had been standerdized. The plants were grown in 150 cm³ instead of 20 cm³ tubes and we increased the inoculum size from 400 to 1000 nematodes/plant in combination with a nutrient solution better adapted to the barley crop. Six barley accessions were tested with Pratylenchus neglectus and Pratylenchus penetrans. Tests were evaluated 7, 8, 9, and 10 weeks after inoculation. It was found; a shorter test period of 7 weeks is suitable for distinguishing resistant and susceptible genotypes. It was further demonstrated that 7 weeks after inoculations is sufficient to determine nematode numbers instead of 10 or 12 weeks after inoculation. Moreover, measuring the root fresh weight was necessary to calculate the relative number of nematodes/g root mass. In conclusion, results led to a more efficient, quicker and more accurate measurement of barley infections by Pratylenchus spp. which is important for selection during early generations of cultivar development.

Late-summer Disease Symptoms in Western Washington Red Raspberry Fields Associated with Co-Occurrence of Phytophthora rubi, Verticillium dahliae, and Pratylenchus penetrans, but not Raspberry bushy dwarf virus.

Sixty percent of the $109 million processed red raspberry industry of the United States occurs in northern Washington State. In 2012, late-summer symptoms of vascular wilt and root disease were observed in many raspberry plantings. These symptoms were initially attributed to Verticillium dahliae. However, diagnostic tests for the pathogen were often contradictory and other soilborne pathogens (Phytophthora rubi and Pratylenchus penetrans) or Raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV) might also have been involved. Therefore, a survey was conducted in 2013 and 2014 to (i) establish the incidence and soil population levels of V. dahliae in red raspberry production fields, (ii) compare among diagnostic methods and laboratories for detecting and quantifying V. dahliae from raspberry field soil, and (iii) assess which pathogens are associated with late-summer disease symptoms of raspberry. Plant and soil samples were collected from 51 disease sites and 20 healthy sites located in 24 production fields. Samples were analyzed for the presence and quantity of each pathogen using traditional plating and extraction methods (V. dahliae, P. rubi, and P. penetrans), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) (V. dahliae and P. rubi), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (RBDV). Results showed that V. dahliae was present in 88% of the production fields and that detection of the pathogen differed by method and by laboratory: qPCR detected V. dahliae in the soil from approximately three times as many sites (51 of 71 total sites) as by plating on NP10 semi-selective medium (15 of 71 total sites). Soil populations of V. dahliae were slightly greater at disease sites, but the pathogen was detected with similar frequency from healthy sites and it was rarely isolated from diseased plants (4%). P. rubi, P. penetrans, and RBDV were also common in production fields (79, 91, and 53% of fields, respectively). Both P. rubi (soil and root samples) and P. penetrans (root populations only), but not RBDV, were more frequently found at disease sites than healthy sites, and the amount of P. rubi detected by qPCR was greater from disease sites than healthy sites. In addition, P. rubi was isolated from 27% of the symptomatic plants located at disease sites. Regardless of detection method, V. dahliae, P. rubi, and P. penetrans, either with or without RBDV, were more likely to co-occur at disease sites (73%) than healthy sites (35%), suggesting that a soilborne disease complex is present in raspberry production fields. Results indicate that P. rubi is the primary pathogen most strongly associated with late-summer symptoms of disease, but root populations of P. penetrans and higher soil populations of V. dahliae may also be of concern. Therefore, disease control methods should focus on all three soilborne pathogens.

Multitrophic interactions in the rhizosphere of a temperate forest tree affect plant carbon flow into the belowground food web

Tree roots and mycorrhizal fungi form an important resource for soil microinvertebrates; however, there is little knowledge on the role of root feeders and microbial grazers on belowground carbon flux of forest trees. Using oak (Quercus robur) microcuttings (Clone DF159) inoculated with an ectomycorrhizal symbiont partner (Piloderma croceum), the present study investigated the impact of multitrophic interactions in the rhizosphere on the carbon flow to the soil food web in a pulse-chase labelling experiment. Changes in plant biomass, microbial communities (soil phospholipid fatty acids - PLFAs) and Collembola lipid pattern (total lipid fatty acids - TLFAs) as well as the 13C incorporation into fatty acids were assessed at 2, 5 and 20 days post labelling of oak microcuttings. Microcosms were inoculated with Pratylenchus penetrans (root-feeding nematode), Protaphorura armata (fungal-feeding Collembola) or their combination. The interaction of P. penetrans and P. armata synergistically reduced oak biomass. Both soil animals independently impacted growth of microorganisms in the rhizosphere, P. penetrans inhibited whilst P. armata promoted bacterial biomass. Irrespective of treatment and time, Gram-positive bacteria derived most of the recent photoassimilated oak carbon, with amounts ranging between 80 and 92% of the total 13C allocated in microbial PLFAs. Presence of either P. armata or P. penetrans enhanced the incorporation of plant carbon in bacteria, whereas collective effects of these two functional groups was scarce. Predominantly the impact of the root-feeding nematode on belowground carbon flow diminished with time. In sum, root feeders and detritivores played independent roles in carbon allocation patterns and community structure of microorganisms in the rhizosphere of oaks.

딸기 육묘장 토양 내 식물기생선충의 감염현황과 자묘를 통한 선충의 분산

To survey the incidence of plant-parasitic nematode in strawberry nursery, 117 soil samples were collected from main producing area of strawberry nursery plants in 2016. The incidences of two major problematic nematodes such as root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) and root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) were 11% and 3%, respectively. Strawberry nurseries using upland soil either in fields or in plastic-houses showed were higher infection rates of Pratylenchus spp. or Meloidogyne spp. than others. On the other hand, a strawberry nursery using pots filled with bed soil in plastic-house was the lowest infection rate with 0%. Phylogenetic relationships and distance analysis were performed for identification of Pratylenchus spp. and Meloidogyne spp. detected from strawberry nurseries. As the results, they were identified as Pratylenchus penetrans, Pratylenchus vulnus and Meloidogyne hapla. Meanwhile, when nursery plants of strawberry infested with P. vulnus transplanted to pots filled with sterilized soil, P. vulnus was detected from soil in pots as 33% frequency. Thus, P. vulnus can be spread through nursery plants of strawberry infested with that. These studies suggested that Pratylenchus spp. and Meloidogyne spp. were ploblematic nematodes in major areas of strawberry nursery plants and P. vulnus could be spread through nursery plants of strawberry.

Developing a Real-Time PCR Assay for Direct Identification and Quantification of Pratylenchus penetrans in Soil.

The root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans is a major pathogen of potato worldwide. Yield losses may be exacerbated by interaction with the fungus Verticillium dahliae in the potato early dying disease complex. Accurate identification and quantification of P. penetrans prior to planting are essential for developing effective integrated pest control measures. However, distinction between P. penetrans and other Pratylenchus spp. based on morphology is a tedious task. A SYBR Green I-based qPCR assay was developed to discriminate, identify, and quantify P. penetrans in field soil. P. penetrans-specific qPCR primers were designed from the D2-D3 region of the 28S rDNA. The specificity of the assay was evaluated using eight isolates of P. penetrans populations and 31 isolates of other nematode species. A standard curve relating threshold cycle and log values of nematode number was generated from artificially infested soils. There was a high correlation between the P. penetrans numbers artificially added to soil or estimated from naturally infested field soils by conventional methods, and the numbers quantified using the qPCR assay. Grinding the field soil prior to DNA extraction improved P. penetrans detection from soil. The qPCR assay will not only be useful for differentiating P. penetrans from mixed populations of Pratylenchus spp., but also for efficient detection and quantification of P. penetrans from field soil. The assay requires no expertise in nematode taxonomy and morphology, and may serve as a useful diagnostic tool in research, diagnostic labs, and extension services for pest management.

Soil amendments influence Pratylenchus penetrans populations, beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms, and growth of newly planted sweet cherry

Replant disease (RD) presents a significant barrier to establishing productive orchards on old orchard soil. Using a field and greenhouse experiment, this study evaluated the influence of agricultural waste compost (AWC) soil amendments, and bark chip mulch (BM) on Pratylenchus penetrans populations and new growth of sweet cherry planted into soil previously used for apple production. Impacts of the treatments on the abundance of rhizosphere microorganisms associated with soil suppressiveness were also evaluated. In the field experiment, fumigation, and preplant incorporation of AWC combined with surface application of BM increased trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) compared to untreated control plots. Fumigation initially decreased P. penetrans populations in soil, however populations recovered by the end of the first growing season. AWC and BM suppressed P. penetrans populations in roots relative to fumigation or the control. AWC increased the abundance of total bacteria, 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol-producing (DAPG) bacteria, and pyrrolnitrin-producing (PRN) bacteria in the rhizosphere, relative to fumigation and the control. In the greenhouse experiment, fumigation, AWC, and yard trimmings compost (YTC) increased shoot length of apple and sweet cherry seedlings as well as suppressed P. penetrans populations compared to the control. AWC also increased the abundance of total bacteria, Pseudomonas spp., DAPG+bacteria, and PRN+bacteria relative to fumigation and the control. Overall, composts and BM show potential as alternatives to fumigation for suppression of RD on sweet cherry, with promotion of beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms a possible contributing mechanism in compost-induced soil suppressiveness.

Serotonin Regulates the Feeding and Reproductive Behaviors of Pratylenchus penetrans.

The success of all plant-parasitic nematodes is dependent on the completion of several complex behaviors. The lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans is an economically important parasite of a diverse range of plant hosts. Unlike the cyst and root-knot nematodes, P. penetrans moves both within and outside of the host roots and can feed from both locations. Adult females of P. penetrans require insemination by actively moving males for reproduction and can lay eggs both within and outside of the host roots. We do not have a complete understanding of the molecular basis for these behaviors. One candidate modulator of these behaviors is the neurotransmitter serotonin. Previous research demonstrated an effect of exogenously applied serotonin on the feeding and male mating behaviors of cyst and root-knot nematodes. However, there are no data on the role of exogenous serotonin on lesion nematodes. Similarly, there are no data on the presence and function of endogenous serotonin in any plant-parasitic nematode. Here, we establish that exogenous serotonin applied to P. penetrans regulates both feeding and sex-specific behaviors. Furthermore, using immunohistochemistry and pharmacological assays, our data suggest that P. penetrans utilizes endogenous serotonin to regulate both feeding and sex-specific behaviors.

Microbiomes associated with infective stages of root-knot and lesion nematodes in soil.

Endoparasitic root-knot (Meloidogyne spp.) and lesion (Pratylenchus spp.) nematodes cause considerable damage in agriculture. Before they invade roots to complete their life cycle, soil microbes can attach to their cuticle or surface coat and antagonize the nematode directly or by induction of host plant defenses. We investigated whether the nematode-associated microbiome in soil differs between infective stages of Meloidogyne incognita and Pratylenchus penetrans, and whether it is affected by variation in the composition of microbial communities among soils. Nematodes were incubated in suspensions of five organically and two integrated horticultural production soils, recovered by sieving and analyzed for attached bacteria and fungi after washing off loosely adhering microbes. Significant effects of the soil type and nematode species on nematode-associated fungi and bacteria were revealed as analyzed by community profiling using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Attached microbes represented a small specific subset of the soil microbiome. Two organic soils had very similar bacterial and fungal community profiles, but one of them was strongly suppressive towards root-knot nematodes. They were selected for deep amplicon sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal ITS. Significant differences among the microbiomes associated with the two species in both soils suggested specific surface epitopes. Among the 28 detected bacterial classes, Betaproteobacteria, Bacilli and Actinobacteria were the most abundant. The most frequently detected fungal genera were Malassezia, Aspergillus and Cladosporium. Attached microbiomes did not statistically differ between these two soils. However, Malassezia globosa and four fungal species of the family Plectosphaerellaceae, and the bacterium Neorhizobium galegae were strongly enriched on M. incognita in the suppressive soil. In conclusion, the highly specific attachment of microbes to infective stages of phytonematodes in soil suggested an ecological role of this association and might be involved in soil suppressiveness towards them.

Symptom Development in Response to Combined Infection of In Vitro-grown Lilium longiflorum with Pratylenchus penetrans and Soilborne Fungi Collected from Diseased Roots of Field-grown Lilies

Eight fungal isolates (ELRF 1 to 8) were recovered from necrotic roots of Easter lilies, Lilium longiflorum cv. Nellie White, grown in a field in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The eight fungal isolates were identified by sequencing and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on their ITS rDNA region. Five isolates were identified as Fusarium oxysporum, two as F. tricinctum, and one as Rhizoctonia sp. AG-I. This constitutes the first report of Rhizoctonia sp. AG-I infecting lilies worldwide and the first report of F. tricinctum infecting lilies in the United States. To study and validate their pathogenicity, pure cultures of each isolate were used to infect the roots of Easter lily plants growing in vitro. In addition, Easter lily plants growing in vitro were infected either with or without Pratylenchus penetrans, the root lesion nematode, prior to placing a culture plug of fungus 1 cm from a lily root. Pratylenchus penetrans is a nematode species commonly found in the sampled fields. The presence of both nematode and Rhizoctonia sp. AG-I isolate ELRF 3 in infected lilies was evaluated by molecular analyses, confirming the infection of roots 3 days after inoculation, prior to development of disease symptoms. Necrosis and root rot developed more rapidly with all eight fungal isolates when there had been prior infection with P. penetrans, the major nematode parasitizing Easter lily roots in the field in Oregon.

Seed Treatment Effects on Maize Seedlings Coinfected with Rhizoctonia solani and Pratylenchus penetrans.

The roots of maize seedlings typically are attacked by a complex of organisms that includes fungal pathogens and plant-parasitic nematodes but few studies have examined the effects of these organisms in combination. Rhizoctonia solani can be an important component of the seedling disease complex; like other fungi, its effect on the plant may be influenced by the activity of nematodes such as the root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans. In this study, we assessed the impact of seed treatments, including fungicide-nematicide combinations, on maize seedlings exposed to R. solani and P. penetrans alone or in combination. In growth-chamber and greenhouse experiments, seed treated with various active ingredient combinations were planted in an autoclaved sand-soil mixture with or without inoculum of R. solani. In some treatments, a suspension of P. penetrans adults and juveniles was added to the sand-soil mixture. In the greenhouse experiments, infection by R. solani caused dramatic reductions in root length, volume, surface area, and numbers of root tips and root forks, whereas P. penetrans infestation alone reduced only shoot fresh weight. Statistical interactions between the effects of the two organisms were not significant, although fungal infestation significantly reduced the numbers of nematodes extracted from roots. Seed treatments significantly improved most root development variables, and the combination that included four fungicides, thiamethoxam, and abamectin was the best treatment for most variables. Results were similar in the growth-chamber experiments, where R. solani caused significant reductions in nearly all shoot and root development measurements, and seed treatment with sedaxane, alone or combined with abamectin, consistently provided the best results. R. solani was more damaging to seedlings than P. penetrans, and the combination of the two organisms did not cause more damage than R. solani alone. Seed-treatment active ingredients that specifically targeted R. solani (sedaxane) and P. penetrans (abamectin) had large positive effects on seedling health, causing significant improvements in root and shoot growth and development compared with untreated seedlings exposed to these pathogens.

Characterization and silencing of the fatty acid‐ and retinol‐binding Pp‐far‐1 gene in Pratylenchus penetrans

Fatty acid‐ and retinol‐binding proteins (FARs) are unique to nematodes, and are implicated in a wide range of metabolic and parasitic related functions. Along with the in silico analyses performed in this study, three different FAR members of this family were identified in Pratylenchus penetrans. The cDNA corresponding to the fatty acid‐ and retinol‐binding Pp‐far‐1 gene was cloned and herein characterized at the molecular level for the first time for this genus. The translated 185 amino acid sequence of P. penetrans FAR‐1 sequence, with a predicted molecular weight of 20.82 kDa and a pI of 5.49, shares highest sequence identity to FARs of other migratory nematodes of the Pratylenchidae family (90% to P. vulnus and 80% to Radopholus similis). In situ hybridization localizes Pp‐far‐1 transcripts in the hypodermis of the nematode. RT‐qPCR detected Pp‐far‐1 transcripts for all nematode developmental stages, with highest expression levels found in juveniles, adult females and adult males, respectively. Pp‐far‐1 is also highly expressed during infection and establishment of P. penetrans in roots of different host plants, such as corn, lily and soybean. The importance of Pp‐far‐1 was studied by in planta RNA interference (RNAi) assays using stable soybean hairy root lines. Targeting Pp‐far‐1 decreased expression of the nematode Pp‐far‐1 and significantly reduced the reproduction of nematodes, with a total of between 44% and 70% fewer nematodes in comparison to the average number of nematodes counted for control lines. The results indicate that suppressing the expression levels of Pp‐far‐1 can act as an effective target gene to control P. penetrans.

Free-Living Plant-Parasitic Nematodes do not Affect the Efficiency of Seed Tuber Fungicide Treatment against Rhizoctonia solani

Stem canker on germinating potato sprouts is often caused by seed-borne inoculum of the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. However, high amounts of free-living plant-parasitic nematodes have been found in field patches of potato plants with stem canker. Fungicide treatment of the seed tubers can be used to avoid stem canker caused by seed-borne inoculum but it is unknown if nematodes can affect this. To investigate whether free-living plant-parasitic nematodes, the root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans or a combination of several plant-parasitic nematode genera in a full nematode community, may have a negative effect on the fungicide seed treatment, a pot experiment with seed tubers inoculated with R. solani, half of which were treated with fungicides, was performed. The seed-borne inoculum caused severe damage to the plants, while no fungal damages were observed on the fungicide treated plants. This shows that the nematodes did not affect the fungicide treatment. The probability of black scurf decreased in treatments with a full nematode community, which may be due to the action of fungal-feeding nematodes.

Annual and Perennial Alleyway Cover Crops Vary in Their Effects on Pratylenchus penetrans in Pacific Northwest Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)

Cover crops can provide many benefits to agroecosystems, such as lessening soil erosion and increasing water infiltration. However, cover crop use is not common in established red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) fields in the Pacific Northwest. Raspberry growers are concerned about resource competition between the cover crop and raspberry crop, as well as increasing population densities of the plant-parasitic nematode Pratylenchus penetrans, which has a wide host range and has been shown to reduce raspberry plant vigor and yield. A 2-yr study was conducted in an established 'Meeker' raspberry field in northwest Washington to evaluate the effects of nine alleyway cover crops, mowed weed cover, and the industry standard of bare cultivated soil on P. penetrans population dynamics, raspberry yield, and fruit quality. The host status for P. penetrans of cover crops included in the field experiment, as well as Brassica juncea 'Pacific Gold' and Sinapis alba 'Ida Gold', was also evaluated in greenhouse experiments. In the field experiment, P. penetrans population densities did not increase in alleyway cover crop roots over time or in alleyway soil surrounding cover crop roots (means range from 0 to 116 P. penetrans/100 g of soil) compared with the bare cultivated control (means range from 2 to 55 P. penetrans/100 g of soil). Pratylenchus penetrans populations did not increase over time in raspberry grown adjacent to alleyways with cover crops (means range from 1,081 to 6,120 P. penetrans/g of root) compared with those grown adjacent to bare cultivated soil alleyways (means range from 2,391 to 5,536 P. penetrans/g of root). Raspberry grown adjacent to bare cultivated soil did not have significantly higher yield or fruit quality than raspberry grown adjacent to cover crops in either year of the experiment. In the greenhouse assays, 'Norwest 553' wheat and a perennial ryegrass mix were poor hosts for P. penetrans, whereas 'Nora' and 'TAM 606' oat and 'Pacific Gold' and 'Ida Gold' mustard were good hosts. These results support the idea that the potential benefits of alleyway cover crops outweigh the potential risk of increasing P. penetrans population densities and do not compromise raspberry yield or fruit quality.