Resistance to Meloidogyne mayaguensis in Psidium spp. Accessions and their grafting compatibility with P. guajava cv. Paluma

Carneiro, Regina M.D.G.; Cirotto, Pedro Augusto; Quintanilha, Alípio P.; Silva, Dijalma B.; Carneiro, Rui G.

doi:10.1590/S0100-41582007000400001

Abstracts

Meloidogyne mayaguensis has been reported in some states of Brazil causing severe damage on commercial guava (Psidium guajava L.). Accessions of Psidium spp. were selected from a collection maintained in Embrapa Clima Temperado (Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State). Plants of different accessions were grown from seed in plastic bags and, when they reached 15-20 cm in height, were inoculated with 10,000 eggs/plant of M. mayaguensis. Eight months after inoculation, the different accessions were evaluated for resistance to M. mayaguensis. Three accessions of P. guajava were highly susceptible (RF=59.2) to this nematode. Psidium friedrichsthalianium was considered to be moderately resistant (RF=1.9). Three accessions of P. cattleyanum were immune to M. mayaguensis (RF = 0). When used as rootstocks P. cattleyanum and P. friedrichsthalianium were compatible with P. guajava cv. Paluma. Considering these results, the use of resistant rootstocks provides a promising control method for M. mayaguensis in commercial guava crop.

root-knot nematode; guava; rootstock; Psidium cattleyanum; Psidium friedrichsthalianium

Meloidogyne mayaguensis tem sido assinalado em alguns estados do Brasil causando danos severos em goiabeiras comerciais (Psidium guajava L.). Acessos de Psidium spp. foram selecionados a partir de uma coleção mantida na Embrapa Clima Temperado (Pelotas, RS). Plantas de diferentes acessos foram transplantadas em sacos plásticos e quando atingiram 15-20 cm de altura foram inoculadas com M. mayaguensis (10.000 ovos/planta). Oito meses após a inoculação, os diferentes acessos foram avaliados quanto à resistência a esse nematóide. Três acessos de P. guajava foram altamente suscetíveis (FR=59,2). Psidium friedrichsthalianium foi considerado moderadamente resistente (FR=1,9). Três acessos de P. cattleyanum foram imunes (FR=0) a M. mayaguensis. P. friedrichsthalianium e P. cattleyanum quando usados como porta-enxertos foram compatíveis com P. guajava cv. Paluma. Considerando esses resultados, o uso de porta-enxertos resistentes poderá vir a ser um método promissor para o controle de M. mayaguensis em plantios comerciais de goiaba.

nematóide de galhas; goiaba; porta-enxerto; Psidium cattleyanum; Psidium friedrichsthalianium

ARTIGOS ARTICLES

Regina M.D.G. Carneiro^I; Pedro Augusto Cirotto^I; Alípio P. Quintanilha^I; Dijalma B. Silva^I; Rui G. Carneiro^II

^IEMBRAPA - Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Cx. Postal 02372, CEP 70849-979, Brasília, DF, Brazil, e-mail: recar@cenargen.embrapa.br

^IIIAPAR - Instituto Agronômico do Paraná, Cx. Postal 481, CEP 860001-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil

ABSTRACT

Meloidogyne mayaguensis has been reported in some states of Brazil causing severe damage on commercial guava (Psidium guajava L.). Accessions of Psidium spp. were selected from a collection maintained in Embrapa Clima Temperado (Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State). Plants of different accessions were grown from seed in plastic bags and, when they reached 15-20 cm in height, were inoculated with 10,000 eggs/plant of M. mayaguensis. Eight months after inoculation, the different accessions were evaluated for resistance to M. mayaguensis. Three accessions of P. guajava were highly susceptible (RF=59.2) to this nematode. Psidium friedrichsthalianium was considered to be moderately resistant (RF=1.9). Three accessions of P. cattleyanum were immune to M. mayaguensis (RF = 0). When used as rootstocks P. cattleyanum and P. friedrichsthalianium were compatible with P. guajava cv. Paluma. Considering these results, the use of resistant rootstocks provides a promising control method for M. mayaguensis in commercial guava crop.

Additional keywords: root-knot nematode, guava, rootstock, Psidium cattleyanum, Psidium friedrichsthalianium.

RESUMO

Meloidogyne mayaguensis tem sido assinalado em alguns estados do Brasil causando danos severos em goiabeiras comerciais (Psidium guajava L.). Acessos de Psidium spp. foram selecionados a partir de uma coleção mantida na Embrapa Clima Temperado (Pelotas, RS). Plantas de diferentes acessos foram transplantadas em sacos plásticos e quando atingiram 15-20 cm de altura foram inoculadas com M. mayaguensis (10.000 ovos/planta). Oito meses após a inoculação, os diferentes acessos foram avaliados quanto à resistência a esse nematóide. Três acessos de P. guajava foram altamente suscetíveis (FR=59,2). Psidium friedrichsthalianium foi considerado moderadamente resistente (FR=1,9). Três acessos de P. cattleyanum foram imunes (FR=0) a M. mayaguensis. P. friedrichsthalianium e P. cattleyanum quando usados como porta-enxertos foram compatíveis com P. guajava cv. Paluma. Considerando esses resultados, o uso de porta-enxertos resistentes poderá vir a ser um método promissor para o controle de M. mayaguensis em plantios comerciais de goiaba.

Palavras-chave adicionais: nematóide de galhas, goiaba, porta-enxerto, Psidium cattleyanum, Psidium friedrichsthalianium.

INTRODUCTION

The common guava (Psidium guajava L.) is indigenous to tropical America. The root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) is a recognized limiting factor in commercial guava production in Central American countries (El Borai & Duncan, 2005). Considering the difficulty of identifying Meloidogyne mayaguensis Rammah & Hirschmann, 1988 only by the perineal pattern (Carneiro et al., 2001; Brito et al., 2004), it is possible that M. mayaguensis from guava has been misidentified in different regions of the world. It is therefore possible that the severe root-knot problem in the Americas and the isolated cases in Africa involve only this particularly virulent species.

The guava is one of the fruit trees that is best adapted to the region of the Mid São Francisco river valley in Brazil. It is the best choice for small-holders as it uses the abundant local labor, has a low production cost and presents a fast return on investments. The species Meloidogyne mayaguensis was detected for the first time in Brazil, in Petrolina (Pernambuco State) and Curaçá and Maniçoba (Bahia State) (Carneiro et al., 2001). Severely infected trees decline rapidly, culminating in the death of the plants. Moderate infestations are associated with general chlorosis, nutrient deficiency symptoms and reduced flowering and fruiting. Roots of infected trees show multiple galls and secondary infections by other soil micro-organisms. This nematode is making cultivation of guava in the infested areas unfeasible, causing serious economic problems to growers and the economy of the region (Moreira et al., 2003). In the mid San Francisco region, the area cultivated with guava has decreased from 6,000 ha to 1,669 ha in seven years (2000-2006), a reduction of more than 70% of the guava production (Plantec/Codevasf, personal communication). Recently, severe symptoms of the attack of M. mayaguensis on guava have been reported from different regions and States of Brazil: Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte (Torres et al., 2004, 2005), Rio de Janeiro (Lima et al., 2003), Espirito Santo (Lima et al., 2007), São Paulo (Almeida et al., 2006a), Paraná (Carneiro et al., 2006) and Piauí (Soares et al., 2006). This species was detected in the state of Rio de Janeiro in native areas of Atlantic forest (Lima et al., 2005), suggesting that the nematode has not been introduced in Brazil from other countries, as suggested when it was reported for the first time in the country (Carneiro et al., 2001). In all recent surveys in Brazil the species M. mayaguensis was identified using esterase profile (Est M2, Rm: 0.7, 0.9) (Carneiro et al, 2000). The perineal patterns of M. mayaguensis isolates from Brazil showed morphological variability and are often similar to M. incognita. In Brazil, M. incognita was identified on guava by Moura & Moura (1989), using female perineal patterns. However, this species has not been detected in recent field surveys in Pernambuco State, and was probably misidentified in the past. The purpose of this study was to evaluate indigenous Psidium species for resistance to M. mayaguensis and their compatibility as rootstock for P. guajava cv Paluma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Accessions of Psidium guajava (3), P. friedrichsthalianium (Berg.) Nied (1) and P. clatteyanum Sabine (3) were evaluated under greenhouse conditions (25-30 ºC) for resistance to M. mayaguensis (population from Petrolina). The susceptible commercial variety Paluma was used as control. M. mayaguensis was identified using the methodology described by Carneiro & Almeida (2001) and maintained in a greenhouse on 'Santa Cruz' tomato.

Plants of different accessions were grown from seed in plastic bags (3000 cm³ volume) containing a moist, steam-sterilized loamy sand soil (85 % sand, 10 % of silt and 5% of clay). When plants were 15-20 cm high, they were inoculated with 10,000 eggs/plant (Pi=initial inoculum level), extracted from infected tomatoes, using NaOCl 0.5 % according to Hussey & Barker's method (1973), using a blender instead of manual agitation. The pots were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 8 replicates. Eight months after inoculation, the accessions were evaluated by Hartmant & Sasser's (1985) rating index, according to the scale: 0 = no galls or egg masses, 1=1-2 galls or egg masses, 2=3-10, 3=11-30, 4 = 31-10, and 5=over 100 galls or egg masses. Plants that had an average gall and egg mass index of 2 or lower were considered resistant.

The seven accessions were also evaluated by extracting the eggs from the entire root system, as in the methodology described above, using 1% of NaOCl. The final population density (Pf) was quantified using a Peters slide under the microscope and the nematode reproduction factor (RF= Pf/Pi) was calculated. The reproduction factors were compared by Tukey's test with significant difference at 5% of probability. We considered treatments with Rf < 1.00 as resistant to M. mayaguensis. Twelve-month-old plants of P. friedrichsthalianium and P. clatteyanum were grafted with P. guajava cv. Paluma using whip grafting method (Manica et al., 2000).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The reproduction factor (RF) of M. mayaguensis (Table 1) in three accessions of guava was high, confirming that P. guajava is highly susceptible to Meloidogyne spp. (Figura 1) (Cuadra & Quincosa, 1982; Babatola & Oyedunmade, 1992; Maranhão et al., 2001). Psidium friedrichsthalianium was considered to be moderately resistant (RF=1.9) to M. mayaguensis (Table 1, Figure 1). These results confirm the observations made by Cassava et al. (1998) and Matheus et al. (1999). According to these authors, P. friedrichsthalianium was only slightly affected by M. incognita race 1. The problem in Cuba was also addressed by screening other Psidium species for possible resistant rootstocks and resulted in the commercial use of the rootstock P. friedrichsthalianium, which evidently shows a high degree of resistance to Meloidogyne spp. (Fernandez Dias Silveira, 1975). However, the reaction appears to vary with plant material or nematode species. Gonzales & Sourd (1982) and Villota et al. (1997) found P. friedrichsthalianium to show only moderate tolerance to Meloidogyne or susceptibility to M. mayaguensis (Almeida et al., 2006b).

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The reproduction factor (RF) of the nematode in three accessions of Psidium cattleyanum was zero and this species can be considered highly resistant or immune to M. mayaguesis (Table 1, Figura 1). However, P. cattleyanum was considered highly susceptible to Meloidogyne sp. Unfortunately, the species of Meloidogyne was not identified (Cuadra & Quincosa, 1982). Recently, Molinari et al. (2005) detected M. mayaguensis parasitizing guava in Venezuela and tomato in Cuba using isozyme analysis. Considering the difficulty of identifying M. mayaguensis only by the perineal pattern (Carneiro et al., 2001; Brito et al., 2004), it is possible that M. mayaguensis from guava was misidentified in Venezuela, Cuba and other countries.

The grafting assay showed that the species P. friedrichsthalianium and P. cattleyanum are compatible with P. guajava cv. Paluma (Figure 2). Approximately 50% of plants survived after grafting. The roots of P. friedrichsthalianium (19.2 g) and P. cattleyanum Red Selection 10 (14.9) presented high weight when compared with the roots of P. cattleyanum Leodoro (7.6 g) and Ya-cy (7.1 g) (Table 1). Above all, these first two rootstocks presented high root vigor and high capacity for root emission. This information agrees with the results obtained for P. friedrichsthalianium by Cassava et al. (1998).

Considering these results, the use of resistant rootstocks provides a promising control method for M. mayaguensis in commercial guava plantations. However, other experiments will be essential to study the development of grafted plants under field conditions, especially in the Mid San Francisco valley region.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Maria do Carmo B. Raseira for providing seeds of Psidium spp., and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico e Científico - CNPq for scholarships.

Received 05 March 2007 - Accepted 30 July 2007 - FB 7023

Author for correspondence: Regina M.D.G. Carneiro

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