Nematropica (2014) 44, 181-189

Thiago de Freitas Ferreira, Ricardo Moreira Souza, Welington Sérgio Silva Idalino, Karla Daiana dos Santos Ferreira and Paulo Sérgio Torres Brioso (2014)
Interaction of Pratylenchus brachyurus and Helicotylenchus sp. with mealybug wilt of pineapple in microplots
Nematropica 44 (2), 181-189
Abstract: In Brazil, phytonematodes and mealybug wilt of pineapple (MWP) are major phytosanitary problems in pineapple plantations. Phytonematodes and MWP incidence are often concomitant, and the shoot symptoms are nonspecific. 'Vitória' pineapples were cultivated in microplots for 22 months, either uninoculated or inoculated with: i) Pratylenchus brachyurus; ii) Helicotylenchus sp.; iii) the mealybug Dysmicoccus brevipes carrying the pineapple mealybug wilt-associated virus-1, -2, and -3; iv) P. brachyurus and D. brevipes; v) Helicotylenchus sp. and D. brevipes. The symptoms and damage were assessed at 8, 19, and 21 months after inoculation (MAI) to estimate the effect of these pests on vegetative and fruit development. The pest effect was most pronounced at 19 MAI P. brachyurus suppressed (P<0.05) root and D-leaf fresh weight and decreased the width of D-leaves and fruit. Pratylenchus brachyurus, Helicotylenchus sp., and MWP reduced the fruit length and delayed fruit maturity, while both nematodes, but not MWP, reduced the fruit weight. These results suggest that the concomitant incidence of Helicotylenchus sp. or P. brachyurus with MWP results in additive damages to pineapple. Shoot symptoms varied from none, in plants parasitized by Helicotylenchus sp., to wilt and chlorosis of leaves, followed by necrosis at the tip of newer leaves, and death of the older leaves in the plants affected by MWP and parasitized by P. brachyurus. These results indicate the need for a better understanding of the symptoms and damages induced by nematodes and MWP in commercial plantations as a necessary step towards better field diagnosis and management.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
damage/losses/economics

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Pratylenchus brachyurus	Pineapple (Ananas comosus)
	Dysmicoccus brevipes	Pineapple (Ananas comosus)
	Pineapple mealybug wilt-associated virus 1	Pineapple (Ananas comosus)