Nematropica (2008) 38, 163-175

B.M. Schwartz, K.E. Kenworthy, W.T. Crow, J.A. Ferrell, G.L. Miller and K.H. Quesenberry (2008)
Methodology for screening Belonolaimus longicaudatus in a turfgrass breeding program
Nematropica 38 (2), 163-175
Abstract: Efforts to screen large numbers of turfgrass genotypes would likely result in the discovery of genes associated with resistance or tolerance to plant-parasitic nematodes. The identification of germplasm with these characteristics will become increasingly important as stringent regulations regarding the use of soil fumigants and nematicides are put into place. Therefore, a glasshouse study was initiated to investigate plant-parasitic nematode evaluation methods on 'TifEagle' hybrid bermudagrass to identify a high throughput, accurate and repeatable greenhouse screen useful to turfgrass breeding programs during sequential trials in 2007. Three establishment methods, classified as: i) conetainers grown in for 45 days (45-d containers), ii) containers grown in for 90 days (90-d containers), and iii) clay pots grown in for 90 days (90-d clay pots) before inoculation with sting nematodes, respectively, were assessed. Two inoculation rates, 50 and 100 mixed life stages of Belonolaimus longicaudatus/100 cm3 of soil, were compared to an uninoculated control within each establishment method. Total dry root weights were 38% and 28% larger for uninoculated treatments when compared to an average of the two sting nematode inoculated treatments in the 45-d containers and 90-d containers, respectively. Root weights were not significantly reduced by sting nematode pressure in the 90-d clay pots. Total root lengths of uninoculated treatments were 57%, 55%, and 31% greater than an average of the two inoculated treatments in the 45-d containers, 90-d containers, and 90-d clay pots, respectively. Results were generally more variable for treatments grown in 90-d clay pots and some root length characteristics were not consistent between trials in the 90-d containers. Quantifying root damage using 45-d containers inoculated with 50 sting nematodes provided reproducible results characteristic of those reported in other greenhouse and field evaluations.
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Database assignments for author(s): Jason A. Ferrell, William T. Crow

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Belonolaimus longicaudatus	Cynodon (crop)	U.S.A. (SE)