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Comparison of the reproduction and pathogenicity of isolates of Radopholus similis (burrowing nematode) from Australia and Fiji on ginger (Zingiber officinale) and banana (Musa spp.)

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Abstract

Ginger is an important commercial crop with global trade of 1.3 million tonnes, worth US$1038 million in 2016, but is impacted by several soil borne diseases including plant-parasitic nematodes. Radopholus similis, the burrowing nematode, has been recorded as a persistent problem in Fijian ginger production, but has not been recorded on ginger in Australia. The objective of this study was to establish if differences in the pathogenicity of R. similis on ginger exist between isolates from Fiji and Australia. Four Australian and two Fijian isolates of R. similis were compared in the glasshouse for their impacts on plant growth and multiplication on ginger and banana. Harvest and plant assessments were conducted over a 10-week interval, beginning 12 weeks post-inoculation. All isolates of R. similis were able to multiply on ginger, but the two Fijian isolates reduced above and below-ground ginger growth and caused significantly greater (P = 0.05) damage to rhizomes than the four Australian isolates. In contrast, the Fijian isolates did not multiply on banana or have any damaging effects, whereas, the Australian isolates multiplied and caused damage on this host. Thus, R. similis isolates from Fiji and Australia differed in pathogenicity on ginger and banana, indicating pathotype differences between isolates. Given the pathogenic variability observed in this study, care should be taken when soil and plant material (e.g. fresh rhizomes) are transferred between Fiji and Australia to avoid the potential introduction of infected material that could be used for plant propagation.

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Acknowledgements

Funding and support for this research was provided by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, AgriFutures Australia (project no. PRJ-010078) and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. We thank Drs. Dean Beasley and Suzy Perry of Biosecurity Queensland, Mr. Rob Abbas, Rob Abbas Consulting, the Australian Ginger Industry Association (AGIA) and the Biosecurity Authority Fiji for their contributions to this research. Thank you to Miss Noeleen Warman, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for her technical assistance during the course of this work and to Dr. Graham Stirling, Biological Crop Protection for his assistance in preparing this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, EcoSciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Rd, Dutton Park, Brisbane, Queensland, 4102, Australia

    J. A. Cobon, K. A. Chandra & W. T. O’Neill

  2. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture, 24 Experimental Station Road, South Johnstone, Queensland, 4859, Australia

    A. B. Pattison

  3. Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, ABARES, 44 Mort St, Braddon, Australian Capital Territory, 2612, Australia

    L. D. J. Penrose

  4. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Maroochy Research Station, PO Box 5083, Nambour, Queensland, 4560, Australia

    M. K. Smith

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  1. J. A. Cobon
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  3. L. D. J. Penrose
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  4. K. A. Chandra
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  5. W. T. O’Neill
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Correspondence to J. A. Cobon.

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Cobon, J.A., Pattison, A.B., Penrose, L.D.J. et al. Comparison of the reproduction and pathogenicity of isolates of Radopholus similis (burrowing nematode) from Australia and Fiji on ginger (Zingiber officinale) and banana (Musa spp.). Australasian Plant Pathol. 48, 529–539 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13313-019-00656-w

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