Bioassay to characterise the effects of nematicidal compounds on Meloidogyne species

Summary A bioassay was developed to characterise the effects of nematicidal compounds and tested using low concentrations (0.125 and 0.25 mg l −1 ) of three nematicides: fluensulfone, fluopyram and fluazaindolizine. Germinating lettuce seeds with ca 2-3 mm roots were planted in a 5.5-cm-diam. Petri dish on agar containing the nematicides. Second-stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne javanica and M. incognita were introduced to the agar plate immediately after planting. Alternatively, lettuce seeds were planted 48 h after introducing J2 to the plate. The number of J2 attracted to a root tip and J2 mobility were recorded 19 h after inoculation or planting, and infection rate and root length were recorded 5 days after planting. The three nematicides showed different effects on J2 of the Meloidogyne species. Fluensulfone did not inhibit infection by either species if the lettuce was planted immediately after inoculation, but their infection rates, and especially those of M. incognita , were reduced when lettuce seeds were planted 2 days later. Fluopyram reduced infection with M. javanica J2 at higher rates (>83.3%) than for M. incognita J2 (<58.4%) compared to the control, even without 48 h exposure before planting. Fluazaindolizine reduced M. incognita infection at high rates (>83.3%), although the J2 were attracted to the lettuce roots. Root lengths also showed differences in infection severity. This assay distinguished the effects of the three nematicides on the two Meloidogyne species and can also serve to screen compounds that inhibit nematode infection without killing Meloidogyne J2.