Breeding forages in Florida for resistance to nematodes

Abstract

Forage legumes and grasses provide the basis for the worldwide ruminant animal livestock industry, and most of these forages come from perennial pasture plants. As animal agriculture has intensified, pest pressures on perennial forages often also become more prevalent. Among these pest plant parasitic nematodes, especially root-knot nematodes (RKN) (Meloidogyne spp.) have been shown to be major forage crop pests. In this paper, we summarise research from the University of Florida related to development of methods for screening germplasm for RKN responses, results from germplasm evaluations across a range of forage legume and grass species, and progress from breeding and selection research including studies of the genetic basis of resistance. We then present prospects for continued genetic improvement in RKN resistance using conventional and modern molecular methods.