The response of the pepper with and without Me1 gene to Mi-1.2-virulent Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White,1919) (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) isolates

Abstract

Root-knot nematodes are important organisms that infect vegetables. Due to the intense use of Mi-1.2, virulent populations that break resistance have become widespread and have become an important factor limiting the use of this gene. Me1 resistance gene on pepper provides resistance against Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal, 1889) Chitwood, 1949 Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White,1919) Chitwood, 1949 and Meloidogyne javanica (Treub, 1885) Chitwood, 1949 (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) species. However, there is limited information on the effectiveness of the Me1 gene against Mi-1.2 virulent populations. Therefore, it is important to know the reaction of pepper cultivars carrying the Me1 resistance gene against Mi-1.2 virulent populations. In this study, the response of resistant pepper cultivar MT-01 F1 (bearing Me1) and susceptible pepper cultivar Safran F1 against both Mi-1.2 natural virulent M. incognita isolates and Mi-1.2 selected virulent M. incognita isolate was investigated under controlled conditions. This study was conducted in Akdeniz University Faculty of Agriculture Department of Plant Protection Nematology Laboratory in 2021. All isolates caused many egg masses and galls on the resistant tomato cultivar Seval F1 as expected, and the susceptible pepper cultivar Safran F1. Five isolates were found to cause egg masses and gall formation, while the V3 isolate did not multiply on the resistant pepper cultivar MT-01 F1. The results showed that pepper cultivars carrying the Me1 gene exhibited different responses against Mi-1.2 virulent isolates.