Pathogenicity of Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica on recombinant inbred lines from a crossing of Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo × C. pepo subsp. ovifera

Abstract

The response of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a cross of zucchini × scallop (Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo ‘Murcia MU-CU-16’ × C. pepo subsp. ovifera ‘Scallop UPV-196’) to Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica was determined after completion of a nematode reproduction cycle in experiments carried out in a growth chamber. The nematode differentiated the C. pepo genotypes at the subspecies level due to lower egg mass production on subspecies pepo than ovifera, and thus subspecies pepo was a poorer host than ovifera. In addition, Murcia MU-CU-16 discriminated M. incognita from M. javanica in terms of egg masses (EM), eggs per gram of root and reproduction factor (Rf), whereas Scallop UPV-196 did so in eggs per gram of root and Rf. The RILs differed in gall formation and EM production depending on the nematode × line combination. Comparisons between nematode isolates resulted in four significant combinations for pathogenic potential (galls/initial population (Pi) × 100), seven for parasitic success (egg masses/Pi × 100), and nine for host efficiency (egg masses/galls per root system × 100) which included all the lines tested against both isolates. Lines that restricted nematode development by at least 90% were considered as having intermediate resistance to M. incognita based on the definition of the International Seed Federation. They included lines 28-1, 35A, 107A, 110-3 and 153-2. All the RILs were susceptible hosts for M. javanica. The information presented here will be helpful for nematode management and also for plant breeders working on pathogen resistance on C. pepo.