Reactions of sugarcane varieties to <i>Meloidogyne incognita</i> and <i>M. enterolobii</i> parasitism

Abstract

The development of resistant varieties is one of the most important alternatives for rot-knot management on sugarcane fields. The present study had as objective to evaluate the development of the sugarcane varieties RB92579, RB93509, RB867515 and SP81-3250 under different densities of M. incognita and M. enterolobii, as well the effect of genotypes on nematode reproduction under greenhouse conditions. One month old plants had the soil infested with increasing inoculum densities (0, 5000, 10000 and 20000 eggs and juveniles per plant) in a completely randomized design, evaluated after 90 days.  Evaluations were based on nematode reproduction, fresh biomass weight of shoots and root, stalk diameter, plant height and gall index. The varieties RB863129, RB867515 and SP81-3250 were resistant to M. enterolobii, and RB92579 was immune. All varieties were susceptible to M. incognita but RB863129 and RB867515 stand out due to their higher tolerance to this nematode.