Establishment of new monoxenic culture systems for root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., on axenic water spinach roots

Abstract

To establish optimal monoxenic culture systems for Meloidogyne spp., in vitro axenic culture methods of water spinach and tomato roots and monoxenic reproduction of the nematodes were assessed on six different media (MS-I to MS-VI), based on the standard Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The concentrations of the major elements of MS medium were amended, and the main differences among these media were concentrations of iron salts, hormone and ammonium nitrate in the macroelements. Both water spinach and tomato successfully produced roots on MS-I to MS-V media (with ammonium nitrate), but not on MS-VI (without ammonium nitrate). Water spinach produced many more roots than tomato, especially on MS-I (without hormones). Meloidogyne incognita was successfully established on in vitro roots of the two plants on MS-I to MS-V media. It was also possible to culture M. javanica and M. arenaria on water spinach root on MS-I medium. In addition, water spinach root tissues could be maintained for 8 months on MS-II and MS-V media.