Host status of selected peach rootstocks to Meloidogyne mayaguensis

Abstract

Six commonly known peach rootstocks (i.e., Flordaguard, Guardian®, Halford, Lovell, Nemaguard, and Okinawa) were evaluated for their susceptibility to Meloidogyne mayaguensis in the greenhouse. All rootstocks were rated as either nonhosts (highly resistant) or poor hosts (resistant) of M. mayaguensis. Lovell generally supported greater numbers of M. mayaguensis eggs per plant and eggs per gram of dry root, whereas no nematode reproduction was noted on Flordaguard rootstock (nonhost). Root galling occurred on all six rootstocks. However, reproduction as measured by number of egg masses, eggs per plant, and eggs per gram of dry root was a better measure of host resistance than number of root galls per plant.