Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) – a century-old battle

Abstract

The encounter between Meloidogyne species and tomato is many centuries old. Meloidogyne species are known to cause high levels of economic loss worldwide in a multitude of agricultural crops, including tomato. This review was initiated to provide an overview of the damage potential of Meloidogyne spp. on cultivars of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and to compile the different studies done on the management of Meloidogyne spp. on tomato with particular emphasis on the Mi resistance gene. Numerous studies have been conducted to assess the damage potential of root-knot nematode on various tomato cultivars; its yield loss potential ranges from 25 to 100%. A range of management options from using synthetic nematicides to soilless cultures have been tried and are available for managing Meloidogyne spp. Resistant commercial cultivars and rootstocks carrying the Mi gene have been used successfully to manage Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica and M. arenaria. However, virulent populations have been detected. Relying on a single root-knot nematode management strategy is an outdated concept and different management options should be used in an integrated management context by considering the whole system of disease management. In future management of Meloidogyne species, care must be taken in directly extrapolating the tolerance limit determined elsewhere, since it is affected by many factors such as the type of initial inoculum and physiological races of Meloidogyne spp., environmental conditions, types of cultivars and experimental approaches used.

Inhibitory effects of components from root exudates of Welsh onion against root knot nematodes

“…Diverse management systems have been developed to prevent RKN infestations, including chemical control, soil heat treatment, flooding, biological control, and crop rotation, of which chemical control and soil heat treatment methods are widely used [8]. Although chemical control can considerably decrease the adverse effects of RKNs on vegetable yield, chemical nematacides are expensive, detrimental to the environment, or lead to the development of insecticide resistance.…”

A multi-seasonal model of plant-nematode interactions and its use to identify optimal plant resistance deployment strategies

“…incognita (Ornat et al, 2001;Seid et al, 2015). Mi-1, originally from the wild species Solanum peruvianum, was introgressed into tomato by interspecific crosses in the early 1940s.…”

“…Since then, many resistant varieties have been globally deployed, all bearing the same resistance gene. Nowadays, resistance breaking by M. incognita populations is recorded worldwide, in virtually every area growing tomatoes (Seid et al, 2015). In this study, we will thus use Mi-1: M. incognita as our reference system.…”

“…It should be remarked that low ratios of resistant plants are in total contrast with the currently dominant agricultural practices, based on the regular cropping of tomato cultivars bearing the same Mi-1 resistance gene. Be it in the field or in experimental studies, such resistant-only strategies often fail, and virulent RKNs overcoming resistance have been observed in most tomato growing areas worldwide(Seid et al, 2015). More specifically, experimental findings have shown that three consecutive cropping seasons of the Mi-1 gene in tomatoes were enough for RKNs to overcome the resistance(Eddaoudi et al, 1997;Verdejo-Lucas et al, 2009).…”

Knockdown of a mucin‐like gene in Meloidogyne incognita (Nematoda) decreases attachment of endospores of Pasteuria penetrans to the infective juveniles and reduces nematode fecundity

“…These microscopic parasitic animals can manipulate plant defences and are thought to reprogram the cell cycle during the formation of specialized feeding cells (giant cells) in the roots for their continued nutrient supply (Gheysen and Mitchum, 2011). Owing to the lack of availability of effective management tools, and the global ban/restriction of many nematicides, alternative management strategies are being sought (Seid et al, 2015). Biological control offers the prospect to provide an alternative in an environmentally benign and self-sustaining manner (Collange et al, 2011).…”