Phytopathology (2014) 104, 507-512

Jianbing Ma, Juan Jaraba, Terrence L. Kirkpatrick and Craig S. Rothrock (2014)
Effects of Meloidogyne incognita and Thielaviopsis basicola on cotton growth and root morphology
Phytopathology 104 (5), 507-512
Abstract: Effects of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita and the fungal pathogen Thielaviopsis basicola on cotton seedling growth and root morphology were evaluated in controlled environmental experiments. Four pathogen treatments, including noninfested soil, soil infested with M. incognita, soil infested with T. basicola, and soil infested with both pathogens were evaluated at soil bulk densities (BDs) of 1.25 and 1.50 g/cm³. Plant growth and the morphology of the root systems were evaluated 44 days after planting. Infestation with M. incognita and T. basicola together significantly reduced seedling emergence, number of stem nodes, and root system volume compared with either pathogen alone. Either M. incognita or T. basicola reduced plant height, root fresh weight, top dry weight; root parameters total root length, surface area, and links; and root topological parameters magnitude, altitude, and exterior path length. M. incognita infection increased root radius. Root colonization by T. basicola increased with the presence of M. incognita at the lower soil BD. In contrast to previous research with Pythium spp., root topological indices (TIs) were similar with all of the treatments. Root TIs were near 1.92, indicating a herringbone (less branching) root architectural structure. Studying root architecture using a topological model offers an additional approach to evaluating fungi and nematodes and their interactions for soilborne-pathogen systems.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Craig S. Rothrock

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.
	Meloidogyne incognita	Cotton (Gossypium)
	Berkeleyomyces basicola	Cotton (Gossypium)