Response of eggplant genotypes to avirulent and virulent populations of Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949 (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae)

Abstract

Eggplant is widely grown throughout the world. However, some eggplant genotypes are susceptible to Meloidogyne spp., so Solanum torvum (Sw.) is commonly used as a resistant rootstock for root-knot nematodes. Further investigations of resistant sources to root-knot nematodes are still necessary for breeding programs. In this study, a total of 60 eggplant genotypes, including wild sources, wild rootstocks, wild × wild eggplant rootstocks, wild × cultivated eggplant rootstocks, cultivated eggplant rootstocks, pure lines, standard commercial cultivars and commercial hybrids, were tested with avirulent S6 and Mi-1 virulent V14 populations of Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949 (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) under controlled conditions. The study was conducted in 2016-2017. The seedlings were inoculated with 1000 second-stage juveniles of M. incognita. Plants were uprooted 8 weeks after nematode inoculation, and the numbers of egg masses and galls on the roots and juveniles in the soil of pots were counted. Solanum torvum (Y28) was found to be resistant to S6 and V14 populations of M. incognita. The remaining genotypes were susceptible to both populations. These results could be used for breeding and management purposes for the control of root-knot nematode.