Histological Characterization Of Wild Cucumber Resistance To Meloidogyne Species
Abstract
Using nematode resistant varieties is one of efective and environmental sound strategies being adopted in the management
of economically important Meloidogyne species. Wild cucumber (Cucumis africanus) has been reported to possess resistance
to Meloidogyne species. Two mechanism of nematode resistance, pre- and post-penetration resistance, had been identifed,
with post-penetration mechanism being used in plant breeding programs and crop rotation systems. The objective of this
study was to determine the mechanism of nematode resistance in C. africanus to M. incognita and M. javanica. 6 weeks
old C. africanus seedlings were separately inoculated with 100 s-stage juveniles (J2) of M. incognita and M. javanica. For
30 days, fve seedlings were harvested from both M. incognita and M. javanica experiments every other day. Seedlings’
roots were examined for necrotic spots, rootlet interferences, giant cells and root gall numbers as indicators of successful or
unsuccessful nematode penetration. Harvesting times were highly signifcant (P≤0.01) on necrotic spot, rootlet interference
and root gall numbers in both C. africanus—M. incognita and—M. javanica relations, but were not signifcant for giant cell
number in C. africanus—M. incognita. The results suggested that C. africanus have post-penetration nematode resistance
to both Meloidogyne species.