Response of cucurbit species to Rotylenchulus reniformis

Abstract

The state of Rio Grande do Norte is the major melon (Cucumis melo) producer in Brazil and the reniform nematode Rotylenchulus reniformis has become increasingly important due to damages to that crop and the lack of resistant cultivars and effective control measures. Under these circumstances, eight cucurbit genotypes were screened for resistance or tolerance to a population of R. reniformis in naturally infested field soil, under greenhouse conditions. A high reduction in shoot mass was found in all infected genotypes. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) cv. Sugar Baby showed the lowest rate of nematode reproduction.

Screening Cucurbit Rootstocks for Resistance to Meloidogyne spp. and Rotylenchulus reniformis

“…In the Southeastern United States, R. reniformis is most commonly known as a pest of cotton (Robinson et al, 2005), but has been shown to infest cultivated watermelon (Robinson et al, 1997). In Brazil, R. reniformis was shown to reproduce on the roots of cucurbit species, reducing aboveground biomass as nematode populations increase (Torres et al, 2005).…”