Susceptibility of Crotalaria Species to Different Populations of Meloidogynejavanica

Crotalaria is one of the most widely used plants for the control of phytopathogenic nematodes. The plants act by inhibiting nematode multiplication, fixing atmospheric nitrogen, and improving soil quality. The pathogenicity of nematode populations can vary according to plant species. This study aimed to evaluate the response of different Crotalaria species to seven populations of Meloidogyne javanica. Crotalaria spectabilis, C. ochroleuca, C. juncea, and soybean (control) were inoculated with the nematode. Fresh root weight, root-knot index, total number of nematodes, nematode population density (number of nematodes per gram of fresh root), and reproductive factor (RF) were evaluated 60 days after inoculation. M. javanica populations varied in pathogenicity to all plants studied. Soybean was susceptible to all populations, and C. spectabilis and C. ochroleuca were resistant. C. juncea was susceptible to Mj-7 (RF=1.04). Mj-7 was the most pathogenic population.