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Biodiversity of Meloidogyne spp. from major tomato growing areas of Ethiopia

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Abstract

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are among the biotic factors that limit tomato production worldwide. The objectives of this study were to assess the distribution and identify Meloidogyne spp. and associated problems from major tomato growing areas of Ethiopia. A total of 212-rhizosphere soil and 123 root samples were sampled from 40 localities during 2012/13 growing season. A total of 646 respondents participated in the questionnaire to assess knowledge and practice of farmers and factors associated with RKN damage on tomato. Out of the 212 soil samples collected, 47.2% were found infested by various Meloidogyne species 8 weeks after the start of the bioassay test. Out of the 123 root samples collected, 65% had root galls. The highest prevalence (100%) of RKN was found on samples collected from Adami Tullu, Babile, Erer Gota, Hurso, Jittu, Tikur Wuha, Tepo Choronke, Zeway and Koka. The highest incidence (100%) of RKN was found from Adami Tullu, Jara Weyo, Babile, Erer Gota, Hurso, Jittu, Tikur Wuha, Tony farm, Tepo Choronke, Zeway and Koka localities based on direct observation of galls on collected root samples. Out of the 646 respondents, 43.3% reported to have RKN damage symptoms when shown the symptoms while 56.7% of them did not report damage. The highest significant effect on the dependent variable RKN damage on tomato roots comes from the previous crop, soil texture, awareness about RKN and source of irrigation water used. The presence of Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica, M. arenaria and M. hapla on tomato was confirmed using a combination of molecular and biochemical identification tools. Five isolates of Meloidogyne spp. were not properly identified and could be new species. The two tropical species, M. incognita (48.4%) and M. javanica (41.2%) were the most prevalent species. Both species were also co-infesting tomato plants. Meloidogyne hapla was detected for the first time in an open tomato production farmer’s field at ‘Zeway’ locality with 1620 m.a.s.l. elevation. The occurrence of these Meloidogyne species alone, or in mixed populations from samples collected, clearly shows that RKN are widespread in major tomato growing areas of Ethiopia. In the near future, the economic importance of M. arenaria and M. hapla on tomato production in Ethiopian agriculture should be investigated.

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Acknowledgements

This research was financially and technically supported by VLIR-UOS (ICP-PhD Scholarship) from Belgium.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, School of Plant Sciences, Plant Protection Program, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

    Awol Seid & Chemeda Fininsa

  2. Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Bldg.970, Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Tesfamariam M. Mekete

  3. Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Nematology Unit, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Toon Janssen, Wilfrida Decraemer & Wim M. L. Wesemael

  4. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000, Brussels, Belgium

    Wilfrida Decraemer

  5. Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Burg Van Gansberghelaan 96, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium

    Wim M. L. Wesemael

  6. Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Laboratory for Agrozoology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Wim M. L. Wesemael

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Seid, A., Fininsa, C., Mekete, T.M. et al. Biodiversity of Meloidogyne spp. from major tomato growing areas of Ethiopia. Eur J Plant Pathol 154, 513–528 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-019-01674-6

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