ARS | Publication request: INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MESOCRICONEMA XENOPLAX AND MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA AND THE INCIDENCE OF PEACH TREE SHORT LIFE

Submitted to: Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 1995
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Mesocriconema xenoplax (Mx) and Meloidogyne incognita (Mi), singly and together, were studied on peach trees. 'Lovell' peach seedlings were established in 24 field microplots in August 1989, in soil that had been preplant fumigated with methyl bromide. In November 1989, the nematode species alone (10,000 nematodes per microplot) and together (10,000 Mx + 10,000 Mi), were added. Net photosynthesis levels increased in leaves of trees growing in the presence of Mi in September 1993, but were suppressed (P less than but equal to 0.05) in Mi+Mx treatment trees relative to the control in September 1994. Population density of Mi J2's were not affected by the presence of Mx, however Mx was suppressed (P less than but equal to 0.01) in the presence of Mx+Mi relative to Mx-alone 16, 37, 40, and 52 months after inoculation. In April 1994, 80 per cent of the trees in Mx-alone infested soil developed short life symptoms and died, and the remaining trees succumbed to short life in March 1995. No other trees, including those with Mi+Mx, died.