Host status of cultivated and wild Fragaria genotypes to the quarantine root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne chitwoodi and Meloidogyne fallax

Abstract

The quarantine root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne chitwoodi and Meloidogyne fallax pose a significant phytosanitary risk to agricultural production, yet little is known about their ability to reproduce on strawberry. This study evaluated the host status of cultivated and wild Fragaria genotypes to both nematode species under greenhouse conditions. Seven strawberry genotypes were assessed in two independent experiments differing in inoculum density and duration, representing one and two nematode generations. Solanum lycopersicum cv. Moneymaker served as a susceptible control. Nematode reproduction was determined using the reproductive factor (RF = Pf/Pi). Tomato supported high levels of reproduction of both nematode species, confirming inoculum viability. In contrast, all Fragaria genotypes consistently showed RF values below 1. M. chitwoodi reproduced only at very low levels (maximum RF = 0.025), whereas M. fallax showed no reproduction after one generation and only very limited reproduction after two generations (maximum RF = 0.010). Although occasional eggs and second-stage juveniles were recovered from some strawberry plants, none of the evaluated genotypes supported nematode population increase. The results demonstrate that the tested Fragaria genotypes are poor hosts for both quarantine nematodes and may contribute to reducing population densities but should not be considered as eradication crops.