Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T08:29:01.094Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Root-knot nematodes affect annual and perennial weed interactions with chile pepper

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Stephen H. Thomas
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003-0003
Leigh W. Murray
Affiliation:
University Statistics Center, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003-0003

Abstract

A field microplot experiment was conducted in 1996 and 1997 to determine the influence of root-knot nematodes on intra- and interspecific interactions between chile pepper (chile) and spurred anoda and between chile and yellow or purple nutsedge (or both) using a substitution design. An additional objective was to determine the influence of London rocket, a winter annual and host plant for root-knot nematodes, on the inter- and intraspecific interactions between chile and spurred anoda. Twelve plant combinations were planted into paired 76-cm-diam microplots at a density of 24 plants per microplot each year. Each pair of microplots had one root-knot nematode–infested and one uninfested plot. One randomly selected plant pair or triplet from each plot was destructively sampled in June, July, August, and September each year. Data included leaf area, plant dry weights (leaf, stem, root or root plus rhizome, chile fruit, and nutsedge tuber), and nematode egg production from the belowground biomass of the different plant species within a 2,355-cm3 sampled soil volume. Chile hosted the highest population of root-knot nematodes, followed by spurred anoda, purple nutsedge, and yellow nutsedge. Few root-knot nematode eggs were recovered from London rocket before incorporation into the microplots each spring. Root-knot nematode populations were higher in 1997 and, as a result, more interactions between nematodes and plant combinations were observed for chile. Spurred anoda and root-knot nematodes reduced chile shoot and root weights to levels not significantly different from zero in 1997. Yellow and purple nutsedge shoots, except for those from the original tuber, were removed throughout the season, and these species interfered less with chile. Spurred anoda was not affected by interspecific interference. Few interactions were observed between the spurred anoda plant combinations and root-knot nematodes. In June 1996, low populations of root-knot nematodes (< 4,000 eggs per gram of root) stimulated spurred anoda growth, but higher populations in June 1997 (> 30,000 eggs per gram of root) reduced spurred anoda growth. Prior presence of London rocket had little consistent influence on spurred anoda or chile. Yellow and purple nutsedge growth variables were affected by interference from chile and the other nutsedge species. Tuber number and tuber weight were higher when plants were infected with root-knot nematodes, particularly early in the season. The enhanced tuber production may increase early-season interference from nutsedge species under production conditions. The results suggest that the presence of root-knot nematodes influences plant interference, but the effect is species specific. Annual plants are affected differently compared with perennial nutsedges, possibly because of the continuous association between the perennials and the parasite.

Type
Weed Biology
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

Anchondo, J. A., Wall, M. M., Gutschick, V. P., and Smith, D. W. 2002. Growth and yield of iron-deficient chile peppers in sand culture. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci 127:205210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eisenback, J. D. and Triantaphyllou, H. H. 1991. Root-knot nematodes: Meloidogyne species and races. Pages 191274 in Nickle, W. R. ed., Manual of Agricultural Helminthology. New York: Marcel Dekker.Google Scholar
Fortnum, B. A., Kasperbauer, M. J., Hunt, P. G., and Bridges, W. C. 1991. Biomass partitioning in tomato plants infected with Meloidogyne incognita . J. Nematol 23:291297.Google ScholarPubMed
Holm, L. G., Plucknett, D. L., Pancho, J. V., and Herberger, J. P. 1991. Pages 824 and 125–133 in The World's Worst Weeds, Distribution and Biology. Malabar, FL: Krieger.Google Scholar
Hussey, R. S. 1985. Host-parasite relationships and associated physiological changes. Pages 143153 in Sasser, J. N. and Carter, C. C. eds. An Advanced Treatise on Meloidogyne, Volume 1. Biology and Control. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina State University Graphics.Google Scholar
Hussey, R. S. and Barker, K. R. 1973. A comparison of methods of collecting inocula of Meloidogyne spp., including a new technique. Plant Dis. Rep 57:10251028.Google Scholar
McClure, M. A. 1977. Meloidogyne incognita: a metabolic sink. J. Nematol 9:8890.Google ScholarPubMed
Morales-Payan, J. P., Santos, B. M., Stall, W. M., and Bewick, T. A. 1998. Interference of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) population densities on bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) yield as influenced by nitrogen. Weed Technol 12:230234.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schroeder, J. 1993. Late-season interference of spurred anoda in chile peppers. Weed Sci 41:172179.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schroeder, J., Kenney, M. J., Thomas, S. H., and Murray, L. 1994. Yellow nutsedge response to southern root-knot nematode, chile pepper, and metolachlor. Weed Sci 42:534540.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schroeder, J., Thomas, S. H., and Murray, L. 1993. Yellow and purple nutsedge and chile peppers host southern root-knot nematode. Weed Sci 41:150156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schroeder, J., Thomas, S. H., and Murray, L. W. 1999. Yellow (Cyperus esculentus) and purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) are not injured by increasing root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) population density. Weed Sci 47:201207.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, S. H., Murray, L. W., and Cardenas, M. 1995. Relationship of preplant population densities of Meloidogyne incognita to damage in three chile pepper cultivars. Plant Dis 79:557559.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, S. H., Schroeder, J., and Murray, L. W. 1996. Interactions involving root-knot nematodes and annual or perennial weeds. Third International Nematology Congress (invited symposium presentation). Nematropica 26:227.Google Scholar
VanGessel, M. J., Schroeder, J., and Westra, P. 1998. Comparative growth and development of four spurred anoda (Anoda cristata) accessions. Weed Sci 46:9198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vezzani, B., Schroeder, J., and Thomas, S. 1993. Host capacity for southern root-knot nematode of seven common weeds in New Mexico. Proc. West. Soc. Weed Sci 46:114.Google Scholar
Vrain, T. C., Barker, K. R., and Holtzman, G. I. 1978. Influence of low temperature on rate of development of Meloidogyne incognita and M. hapla larvae. J. Nematol 10:166171.Google ScholarPubMed