Suitability of weed species prevailing in Spanish vineyards as hosts for root-knot nematodes

Abstract

Commercial vineyards in southern Spain were surveyed and sampled during October to December 2004 to determine the extent to which common weeds present were suitable hosts of root-knot nematodes infesting soils of those vineyards. Seven weed species commonly growing in grapevine soils in southern Spain were found infected by either Meloidogyne incognita or M. javanica: Amaranthus retroflexus (redroot pigweed), Anchusa azurea (ox-tongue), Chenopodium album (goosefoot), Erodium moschatum (musk stork's bill), Malva rotundifolia (low mallow), Sinapis alba (white mustard), and Solanum nigrum (black nightshade). The host suitability of the weeds to root-knot nematodes was evaluated on the basis of root galling severity and nematode population densities in soil and roots. Also, the host-parasite relationship in these naturally Meloidogyne-infected weeds was examined. All the weed species in the study were considered suitable hosts for M. incognita and M.javanica because: (a) high Meloidogyne spp. populations occurred in roots and surrounding soil of the weed species; (b) the severity of root galling was high, and (c) well-established permanent feeding sites were observed in the histopathological studies of infected root tissues. In addition, this study presents the first reports of S. alba and A. azurea as hosts for M. incognita, and of E. moschatum as a new host for M. javanica, thus increasing the list of reported weed hosts for Meloidogyne spp. These results indicate that noticeable population densities of M. incognita and M. javanica can be maintained or increased in these weeds, at population levels higher than those previously reported for the same nematodes infecting grapevine roots. The weeds infesting vineyards thus represent an important source of inoculum of Meloidogyne spp., and furthermore may act as reservoirs of these nematodes which can be disseminated within or among vineyards by agricultural operations.

Management of service crops for the provision of ecosystem services in vineyards: A review

“…Castillo et al (2008) highlighted how weeds may host plant parasitic nematodes which could then contaminate grapevine root systems. Some service crop species (e.g.…”

The Current Stage of Greening Vegetation in Selected Wine-Regions of South Moravian Region (Czech Republic)

“…Green cover consisting of more than 90% of species from the botanical family Poaceae (variant B in this study) (e.g., a monoculture of Lolium perene L.) provides a limited ecosystem service and represents a considerable water and nitrogen competitor for grapevines [10,30,43]. Moreover, some authors suggest that grass cover may act as a host for soil-borne pathogens or nematodes [44].…”

“…Plant mixtures should be chosen and composed in relation to the locality. A full ecosystem service provided by this type of vegetation (variant A in this study) cannot be expected in the first year after sowing, as the coverage rate in the first years is not high; thus, soil erosion and runoff can occur, and moreover, undesirable weed species are present [41,44]. Long-term, uninterrupted progress of the succession state is important for the proper functioning of this vegetation type [30].…”

Host suitability of Vitis rootstocks to root‐knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) and the dagger nematode Xiphinema index, and plant damage caused by infections

“…In addition, the role of weed hosts of Meloidogyne spp. in the maintenance and dissemination of the nematode within and across vineyards (Castillo et al. , 2008), as well as the presence of other nematode species, such as the recently reported M. hispanica (Castillo et al.…”