Reproductive potential of South African thermophilic Meloidogyne populations, with special reference to Meloidogyne enterolobii

Abstract

Variability in the reproductive potential of Meloidogyne spp. is crucial to design suitable nematode management strategies. The reproductive potential of nine South African single-species Meloidogyne populations, M. enterolobii (5), M. incognita (2) and M. javanica (2), as well as three mixed-species communities (each containing two of the three species) were determined in glasshouse experiments. A mixed-species community of M. enterolobii and M. javanica had the highest reproductive potential (Rf = 15.7) in the initial experiment. For the repeat experiment, a single-species population of M. javanica was the most injurious (Rf = 19.1). Conversely, a single-species population of M. enterolobii had the lowest Rf values in the initial (Rf = 1.0) and repeat (Rf = 6.1) experiments. Substantial variation existed in terms of the reproductive potential of M. enterolobii single-species populations and mixed-species communities