Comportment of sugarcane genotypes RB to root-knot nematode parasitism

Abstract

The root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica cause severe losses in sugarcane fields in Brazil. Developing resistant varieties is pointed as the ideal measure for the nematode management. This study had as objective evaluating clones and varieties responses to M. incognita and M. javanica parasitism under greenhouse. Evaluations based on plant development and nematode reproduction and were carried out at 120 days after sugarcane inoculation with 9000 eggs per plant. There was significant difference (P ? 0.05) within genotypes for all plant development variables and both nematode species. All genotypes were susceptible (FR ? 1.0) to M. incognita and M. javanica; however, some of them showed reproductive factor (FR) lower than the control. The genotype RB071001 overtopped in biometric responses nematode species, being considered tolerant. On the lack of resistance, tolerant plants with low FR could be a preliminary promising alternative to develop resistant varieties.