Identification of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) species in vegetable growing areas of Lakes region and investigation of their virulence reaction towards Mi gene in tomato

In this study Root-knot nematodes in the vegetable growing areas of Lakes region were characterized by using morphological, molecular and North Carolina Host Test. Then, virulence reaction of identified root-knot nematode populations were investigated on resistant tomato cv. Seval RN F1 carrying Mi gene under the controlled conditions. One hundred sixty soil and root samples were collected from intensively vegetable growing areas in September-October, 2014 in this region. Eighty-three (51.8 %) of total samples were infested with root-knot nematodes. Each population was pure cultured from one egg-mass from dissected under the streo binocular microscope, and multiplied on the susceptible tomato cultivar 'Tueza F1'. Sixty-eight root-knot nematode populations were identified based on perineal pattern model and second stage juveniles morphometrics by morphologically and SCAR primers by molecularly. In the second experiment, virulent reaction of Meloidogyne populations on the Mi gene resistant tomato were conducted by randomized completely block design with 5 replicates and compared with susceptible tomato cv. 'Tueza F1'. Eight weeks later plants were harvested and evaluated by using root galling indices, reproduction ratio, infection frequency and female fertility.Twenty-five populations of Meloidogyne incognita, 22 populations of M. hapla, 18 populations of M. javanica and one population of M. arenaria of the 68 root-knot nematodes were identified and dissemination ratios were found as 36.7 %, 32.3 %, 36.5 % and 1.5 % in the region, respectively. Two populations were not identified. Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica were found in low altitude plateau, whereas M. hapla was found in the high altitude areas. According to the North Carolina Host Test, three races for M. incognita (race 2, race 4 and race 6) and two races for M. javanica (race 1 and race 3) were determined. Meloidogyne javanica race 3 is the first report for Turkey. Three of 25 M. incognita populations and 4 of 18 M. javanica populations were overcomed dominant Mi gene resistance in Seval RN F1. Virulent M. incognita populations formed between 3.8 and 4.6 root gall indices and similarly, virulent M. javanica populations formed between 2.6 and 3.4 root gall indices ratio in the resistant tomato cv. Seval RN F1 carrying Mi gene.