Plant-parasitic nematodes in potato crops of Cartago, Costa Rica: variation by altitude and soil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15517/5m2jd659Keywords:
Pratylenchus, Globodera , Meloidogyne, ensamblaje de nematodosAbstract
Introduction. Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) are a major problem for potato production. Updated information on PPN affecting potato (Solanum tuberosum) in Costa Rica is limited. Objective. To characterize the population genera of PPN in Cartago, with a focus on variations across different altitudes and soil properties. Materials and methods. Between 2015 and 2017, forty-five potato fields from northern Cartago, Costa Rica, were sampled and categorized by altitude: low (1600Ð2100 meters above sea level [m a.s.l.]), medium (2101Ð2600 m a.s.l.), and high (2601Ð3100 m a.s.l.). Composite soil and root samples were collected per field in a zigzag pattern for nematode analysis and soil characterization. Additional soil samples were collected for cyst quantification. Nematodes were extracted using centrifuge sugar-flotation for genus/family identification and the Fenwick method for cyst quantification. Abundance, frequency, and diversity (Hill’s N1 index) were compared across altitudes and sample types. Non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square) and multivariate analyses (PCA, Spearman correlation) evaluated patterns and associations. Results. Thirteen genera/families were identified. Pratylenchus predominated in soil and roots, Meloidogyne showed the highest average density, and Globodera was more abundant at higher altitudes. In addition, nematode genera were associated with soil properties, and the presence of M. incognita and M. hapla was molecularly confirmed. Conclusions. Altitude and soil properties influenced the distribution of PPN in potato fields of Cartago.
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