Nematodes associated with damage in oilseed rape: new data on the biology and geographical distribution of Meloidogyne artiellia

Abstract

For several years, patches of plants presenting deficiencies in growth have been observed in fields cultivated with oilseed rape. Over 3 years, 57 pairs of damaged and undamaged plants were sampled from cultivated fields on the Atlantic coast of France and around the Paris basin. Results show that two main species of plant-parasitic nematodes can be associated with the patches, Heterodera cruciferae and Meloidogyne artiellia, and that both species probably do not occur in the same fields and regions. This means that M. artiellia, which is considered as a Mediterranean species causing damage essentially on wheat, is also well adapted to colder climate conditions and can extensively damage oilseed rape. Monitoring the different development stages of M. artiellia in a field cultivated with oilseed rape provided more information about the life cycle and showed that only one generation can develop between the sowing in autumn and April.