THE INTERACTION BETWEEN ROOT KNOT NEMATODES (RKN) AND SOFT ROT ENTEROBACTERIACEAE (SRE) IN POTATOES

摘要

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is one of the most important crops worldwide. Root knot nematodes or Meloidogyne spp. are important pests of potato. Compared to other plant pathogens in soil, RKN are relatively large and present in large numbers. The combined effect of secreted plant cell wall degrading enzymes and repeated thrusting of the stylet on plant roots, leads to wounds and openings that can be used by secondary pathogens. Thus, disease complexes and synergies have been demonstrated between RKN and other soilborne pathogens. To date, no such interactions have been demonstrated between Meloidogyne spp. and soft rot-causing agents, Pectobacterium spp. Soft rot erwinia are also important pathogens of potatoes resulting in large yield losses annually. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is interaction between the two pathogens: Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. brasiliensis transformed with mCherry fluorescent reporter protein (Pcb_mCherry), and Meloidogyne incognita.