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The influence of ammonium and nitrate nutrition of tomato plants on parasitism by the root-knot nematode

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Abstract

Tomato plants grown in sand-silica culture in 0.75-liter pots and 50-liter containers were fertilized with three ratios of NH4 +/N03 - percentages: 100/0, 50/50, and 0/100. The seedlings were inoculated with the root-knot nematode,Meloidogyne javanica, and 30 and 60 days after inoculation top and root fresh weights, nematode infection degree and sex ratio of the nematode populations were recorded, and N, P, K analyses of plant tops and roots were conducted.

Nematode development was not influenced by the nutrient treatments but a reduced nematode population per mm of root, and a high percentage of males in the population were associated with the 100% ammonium treatment. Increased nitrate level in the medium enhanced fresh top and root weights in the pots and, especially, in the containers. High levels of N and K in the first month, and of N, P, K in the second month, accumulated in the inoculated roots, particularly in the nitrate-fertilized plants.

The results support the theory of the existence of a metabolic sink in roots ofMeloidogyne-infected plants and suggest an increased tolerance to the root-knot nematode in plants receiving nitrate nutrition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Div. of Nematology, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan

    Y. Spiegel & E. Cohn

  2. Div. of Soil Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan

    U. Kafkafi

Authors
  1. Y. Spiegel
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  2. E. Cohn
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  3. U. Kafkafi
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Spiegel, Y., Cohn, E. & Kafkafi, U. The influence of ammonium and nitrate nutrition of tomato plants on parasitism by the root-knot nematode. Phytoparasitica 10, 33–40 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02981890

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02981890

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