The influence of plant-parasitic nematodes on soybean production in South Africa with special reference to root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species)

Abstract

Soybean is an important oil-seed crop with an increase in production in South Africa since the early l 970's to approxamitely 138 000 tons produced during 1997. Several plant-parasitic nematode genera and species are associated with this crop world-wide. Meloidogyne incognita, Heterodera glycines, Pratylenchus brachyurus and Rotyle11ch11/us reniformes are regarded important nematode species on soybean due to yield losses ascribed to them. Although several plant-parasitic nematode genera and species were previously reported on soybean in South Africa, little is known about the nematode-host interaction in this crop. A survey was, therefore, conducted to identify different plant-parasitic nematodes associated with soybean -in the soybean production areas of this country. Host suitability of 38 commercial soybean cultivars for M. javanica and M incognita race I, 2 and 4 were also conducted in greenhouse trials. Twelve plant-parasitic nematode genera were present, including 15 plant-parasitic species. Two genera and nine species were first reports on soybean in South Africa, which included ...