Effect of soil and soil bacteria on hatching activity towards potato cyst nematodes (Globodera spp.)

Abstract

Soil samples taken from the ridge of field-grown potato (cv. British Queen) as well as from bulk soil of the same field were incubated with sterile potato root leachate or water. Samples were filtered and filtrates used in anin vitrobioassay to determine their effect on hatch of potato cyst nematodes (PCN)Globodera rostochiensisandG. pallida. Concurrently, an experiment was established where the sterile potato root leachate or water was incubated with a sterile soil wash. Ridge soil was shown to induce significantly more hatching than bulk soil, indicating the presence of PCN hatching factors. When a soil wash of ridge soil was used it did not increase hatch, suggesting a role for soil microorganisms in the hatching process. Greater hatch ofG. rostochiensisin bulk soil compared toG. pallidasuggests a role for soil microorganisms in spontaneous hatch of PCNin vivo.