Relationship between soil factors with Helicotylenchus pseudorobustus isolated from tomato fields in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Helicotylenchus pseudorobustus is one of the tomato fields' most important plant-parasitic nematodes. In this study, the soil was sampled in 2023. The identification and determination of nematodes was made in the Aquaculture Research Unit at the University of Limpopo. During the investigation of this nematode in the Tzaneen region, the properties of soils infected with this nematode, including pH and EC, were investigated. The population of H. pseudorobustus was counted in 100 grams of soil in each season, and soil characteristics were also analysed at the same time. The results in different seasons of the year showed that the range of pH changes during the year of investigation was between 5.2 and 6.6, and the range of EC changes was between 2.9 and 4.3 mS. A comparison of EC and pH changes with population changes showed that the population increased approximately in the months when soil salinity decreased. In addition, soil structure (71.9% sand, 8.0% silt, and 20.1% clay) didn't influence the H. pseudorobustus population. However, the results showed no significant relationship between soil factors and the population dynamic of H. pseudorobustus nematode throughout the year.