Phytoparasitica (2002) 30 (3) - The role of root exudates in ...

Meira Bar-Eyal, Y. Kapulnik, Edna Sharon and Y. Spiegel (2002)
The role of root exudates in host detection by plant parasitic nematodes
Phytoparasitica 30 (3)
The 23rd Congress of the Israeli Phytopathological Society - February 11-12, 2002
Abstract: Plant parasitic nematodes cause substantial economic damage worldwide. Lately many chemicals employed against nematodes have been excluded from use and it is therefore necessary to develop alternative control measures. The attraction of nematodes to their host is generally based on specific signals from the root which can be detected by the nematodes and affect their behavior. Understanding these processes may enable the development of new means to interfere with nematode parasitism. In this study Ditylenchus dipsaci, the stem and bulb nematode, was used as a model. This nematode attacks underground and upper parts of the plants. The nematodes are transferred mainly by infected vegetative organs and can survive in soil under dry conditions. The effect of onion root exudates on nematode behavior was studied using aseptic bioassays we developed, in plates containing water-agar or sterile sand and soil layers. In comparison with control treatments, the vast majority of the juveniles were attracted to root exudates in all bioassays. The juveniles remained in the attractant zone for several hours and the attraction decreased quantitatively in correlation with serial dilutions of the root exudates. Onion plants are known to be better hosts than alfalfa for this nematode: when juveniles were exposed to either onion exudates or alfalfa exudates, they significantly preferred the onion exudates. Boiling did not affect the attractivity of the onion root exudates and the active fraction was of low molecular weight.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ditylenchus dipsaci	Onion/garlic/leek (Allium)