Effect and Reproduction of Rotylenchulus reniformis on Sweet Potato Selections

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Nematology
• Plant Pathology

Background:

• Reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis) is a significant pest of sweet potatoes.
• Understanding sweet potato selection responses to nematode infestation is crucial for crop management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of reniform nematode on the growth, yield, and quality of ten sweet potato selections.
• To assess nematode reproduction rates on different sweet potato varieties in field conditions.

Main Methods:

• Field study comparing fumigated and non-fumigated plots with naturally occurring reniform nematode populations.
• Evaluation of ten sweet potato selections for growth, yield, quality, and cracking incidence.
• Correlation analysis between nematode population parameters and sweet potato performance metrics.

Main Results:

• Nematode reproduction varied among sweet potato selections, but did not directly correlate with yield reduction.
• Sweet potato yield was significantly reduced by moderate to high initial nematode populations.
• Sweet potato cracking was more frequent in non-fumigated plots, irrespective of nematode population levels.
• Selection P-104 exhibited resistance to cracking, while 'Goldrush' showed high susceptibility and 'Centennial' showed low susceptibility to nematode damage.

Conclusions:

• Sweet potato yield is negatively impacted by initial reniform nematode populations and reproduction ratios.
• Nematode management strategies are essential for optimizing sweet potato production.
• Sweet potato cracking is a notable quality issue associated with nematode infestation, with some selections showing resistance.