Journal

Journal of Applied Horticulture, 14(2): 134-138, 2012 Appl

Resistance evaluation of the pistachio rootstocks to

Meloidogyne species in Iran

Mehrdad Madani1*, Ahmad Akhiani2, Mahmoud Damadzadeh2 and Ahmad Kheiri3

1
University of Tarbiat Modares, College of Agriculture, Plant Pathology Department, Tehran, Iran. Present address: Uni-
versity of Manitoba, Soil Science Department, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. 2Plant Pest and Disease Research Institute. Ministry
of Agriculture and Jahad, Esfahan, Iran, 3University of Tehran, College of Agriculture, Plant pathology department, Karaj,
Iran. *E-mail: madanims@cc.umanitoba.ca.

Abstract
Pistachio (Pistacia vera) is a edible nut native to Iran, the country that ranks first in worldwide pistachio production. Root-knot
nematodes (RKN), Meloidogyne species, are among the most important pathogens that restrict the cultivation of pistachio in Iran. The
objective of this study was to evaluate resistance of native pistachio rootstocks for resistance to isolates of M. incognita. Greenhouse
experiment was conducted to determine the reaction of eleven cultivars of P. vera and six accessions of wild pistachio viz P. mutica,
P. khinjuk, P. terebintus, P. atlantica, P. atlantica sub sp mutica and P. atlantica sub sp cabilica, against five selected populations of
RKN. Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica were identified based on the morphological characters, and esterase isozyme phenotype.
Resistance was characterized based on root gall and egg mass indices and nematode reproduction. Resistance to M. incognita was
detected among the cultivars and wild accessions of pistachio. There was a significant interaction among nematode populations and
host genotypes, suggesting the presence of virulent pathotypes among the M. incognita isolates. These data suggest that it will be
possible to development cultivars with resistance as a means of suppressing damage to pistachio that is caused by RKN.
Key words: Pistachio vera, root knot nematodes, gall index, eggmass index, cultivar

Introduction and species in Iran. Therefore, the objective of this study was to
screen diffierent pistachio cultivars including P. vera and wild
Pistachio originated from central part of the Middle East located

in North Eastern part of the Iran. The pistachio tree (Pistacia vera
L.) is heterozygous, deciduous, dioucious with separate male
and female plants and is cross-pollinated. Iran is the leading
producer of pistachio nuts with more than 252,790 hectares under
cultivation with an annual production of 190,000 metric tons. The
main areas of pistachio cultivation are located in central Iran in
the provinces of Kerman and Esfahan; however, the provinces
of Yazd, Semnan and Ghazvin also produce pistachio. The wild
species P. khinjuk and P. mutica are found in mountainous regions
of the country especially in the west and south.
Root-knot nematodes (RKN) Meloidogyne (Nematoda:
Heteroderidae), including M. incognita and M. javanica are the
most destructive plant-parasitic nematodes found throughout sub-
tropical, tropical and temperate regions of the world. Pistachio
vera is the principal rootstock used and is susceptible to both of
these species. Estimated production losses in pistachio worldwide
caused by Meloidogyne species is US $118 million (Koenning
et al., 1994). In Iran, M. incognita and M. javanicva has been
reported attacking pistachio roots (Abivardi et al., 1979; Akhiani
et al., 1986; Banihashemi and Kheiri, 1995; Kargar, 1989,
Mojtahedi and Barooti, 1976; Madani et al., 1988). These species
were also reported from pistachio roots in California (McKenry
and Kretsch, 1984).
Although several reports indicate wide presence of RKN in
pistachio orchards in Iran and the occurrence of M. incognita
and M. javanica, there is no systematic study on damage caused
by RKN and/or resistance/susceptibility of pistachio cultivars
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relative accessions against Meloidogyne spp.
Materials and methods
The experiments were carried out at the Plant Pest and Disease
Institute of Ministry of Agriculture, Esfahan, Iran. Test for
identification of nematodes were performed at the Plant Research
International, Wageningen, The Netherlands. A survey was
conducted in the main cultivation areas of pistachio in Iran to
collect pistachio seeds and nematode isolates. Infested trees were
easily identified based on stunted growth habit with moderate to
severely necrotic and chlorotic leaves. Thirteen seed samples from
different cultivars of P. vera and 16 samples of wild species were
collected from trees or provided by local growers. Additionally,
three samples of wild pistachio seeds previously identified as
P. atlantica, P. terebintus and P. sp. were received from Dr.
Sh. Dehghani, University of Adelaide, Australia). A sample of
wild species collected from Hormozgan province were kindly
provided by Dr. Z. Banihashemi, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
Sampling location and information on host plants are presented
in Table 1. Collected seeds were kept in paper bags, placed in a
cool dry container and transferred to the laboratory where they
were maintained at 4°C until use. Nematode isolates were isolated
from 30 soil and root samples collected from naturally infested
pistachio orchards from different locations in Iran (Table 2). Two
or three sub-samples were collected from different parts of each
orchard, and mixed together to make a composite sample of about
1 kg containing feeder roots with rhizosphere and bulk soil from a
depth of 50-70 cm. One composite sample was taken from each
 Resistance evaluation of the Pistachio rootstocks to Meloidogyne species in Iran 135

Table 1. Origin, species and location of pistachio seeds used Seeds of wild species were dormant, therefore, they were soaked
No. Code Seed source Species / cultivar overnight in water and green coat was removed. Seeds were
(Province- location) then transferred to plastic container filled with sterile river sand,
1 Pv-Mes Esfahan-Mesr P. vera-Mesri wrapped container with aluminum sheets and maintained at 4°C
2 Pv-Jan Esfahan-Jandagh P. vera-Jandaghi for 30 to 40 days until germination. Each germinated seed with
3 Pv-Fa-Kh Esfahan-Khor Va Biabanak P. vera-Fandoghi-Khor two leaves were then transplanted to a clay pots and kept at
4 Pv-Bo1 Esfahan-Borkhar P. vera-Borkhar
greenhouse under conditions described above. As an alternative,
5 Pv-Bo2 Esfahan-Borkhar P. vera-Borkhar
6 Pv-Bad-Ra Kerman-Rafsanjan P. vera-Badami a method based on H2SO4 treatment was also tested to overcome
7 Pv-Fa-Ra Kerman-Rafsanjan P. vera-Fandoghi the seed dormancy. For this, seeds were subjected to a solution of
8 Pv-Kh-Ra Kerman-Rafsanjan P. vera-Khanjari 1% acid for 1-2 minutes, rinsed with water and then planted.
9 Pv-Sar Khorasan-Sarakhs P. vera-Sarakhs
To obtain pure populations of nematodes, a single egg mass from
10 Pv-Ard Yazd-Ardekan P. vera-Ardekani
each sample was collected and used to inoculate a susceptible
11 Pv-DM Semnan-Damghan P. vera-Mamoli
12 Pv-Kh-Dam Semnan-Damghan P. vera-Khanjari tomato (Lycopersicum esculantum Mill. cv. Rutgers) seedling.
13 Pv-Gh Ghazvin P. vera-Ghazvini Several egg masses from pistachio roots were used separately for
14 Pw-Kh-sem Esfahan-Semirom P. khinjuk inoculation of tomato seedlings at 2-4 leaf stage. For pistachio
15 Pw-Mu-sem Esfahan-Semirom P. mutica root samples, where it was difficult to find an egg mass, tomato
16 Pw-Kh-Bam Kerman-Bam P. khinjuk seedlings were planted in collected soil and/or an egg mass
17 Pw-Mu-Bam Kerman-Bam P. mutica was picked from the roots of weeds. Inoculated tomatoes were
18 Pw-Kh-Jir Kerman-Jiroft P. khinjuk maintained in a greenhouse, separated from each other by plastic
19 Pw-At-Jir Kerman-Jiroft P. atlantica sub sp sheets to prevent any cross contamination of the nematode
mutica
species. After 55 days tomato plants were harvested, soil washed
20 Pw-Kh-Sar Khorasan-Sarakhs P. khinjuk
21 Pw-Mu-Sar Khorasan-Sarakhs P. mutica from the roots and several egg masses and female nematodes were
22 Pw-Mu-Mar Fars-Marvdasht P. mutica collected for species identification.
23 Pw-Mu-Mok Fars-Mok va kavar P. mutica Perineal pattern from at least 20 mature females were prepared
24 Pw-Mu-Ghir Fars-Ghir P. mutica
using lactic acid, mounted in glycerin (Brito et al., 2004) and
25 Pw-Mu-Siv Fars-Sivand P. mutica
26 Pw-Mu-Khan Fars-Khanemein P. mutica
examined for identification of species of each RKN isolate. Based
27 Pw-Mu-Koh Fars-Kohanjan P. mutica on preliminary species identification, four isolates identified as
28 Pw-At-Cab Hormozgan-Geno P. atlantica sub sp M. incognita from the main geographical region of pistachio
cabulica production including (Kerman, Davaran (RD), Esfahan, Khor Va
29 Pw-Mu-Ker Kermanshah P. mutica Biabanak (KH) and Kashan, (K and P) and one M. javanica isolate

30 Pw-Mu-Koh Kohkiloieh P. mutica
31 Pw-Ter-Aus2 Australia P. terebinhtus
32 Pw-At-Aus3 Australia P. atlantica
33 Pw-sp Australia Pistachio sp
orchard and placed in a plastic bag and transported to laboratory
in cooler box at 7-12°C. For locations where no distinct gall
symptoms were observed on pistachio roots, an extra soil samples
were collected from weeds infected with RKN close to trees. No
soil sample was collected from wild Pistachio spp.
Collected seeds were surface sterilized with 1% NaOCl solution
for 5 minutes followed by soaking overnight in sterilized
water. Seeds of P. vera cultivars were then placed between two
layers of wet cotton tissue in a plastic tray and kept at 23-28°C
until germination. To prevent contamination with common
saprophytic fungi, seeds were sprayed with solution of 0.002%
pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) fungicide every two days
during the incubation period. After one week, germinated seeds
were transferred to plastic containers (20×25×10 cm), filled with
a sterilized mixture of sand, Perlite and peat moss (50:25:50
v/v) and then covered with 1 cm layer of sand. Containers were
then kept in a greenhouse at 25-27°C until seedlings emerged.
Seedlings with two leaves were then transplanted to a steam
pasteurized clay pot (15×25 cm) containing approximately 500
cm 3 of sterilized river sand, vermiculate and peat moss (50:25:25
v/v). Pots were kept in a greenhouse with temperature ranging
from 22 to 28 °C and 65-85% relative humidity, for a week, and
then inoculated with nematodes.
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(MJ) from the province of the Yazd (Ardekan). Only M. incognita
isolates were selected for subsequent experiments. Further
confirmation of species was performed on these isolates using
esterase and malate dehydrogenase protein isoelectrophoresis
(IEF) of white female (Karssen et al., 1995), electron microscopy
examination of perineal pattern and J2 morphology and
morphometric characters (Courtney et al., 1995).
Populations of the selected isolates of M. incognita population
collected from Kashan, race 2, (Mi-K), Kashan race 4 (Mi-P),
Khor Va Biabanak, Esfahan, (Mi-KH), and Rafsanja, Davaran
(Mi-RD) and M. pistachio from Ardekan, Yazd (MJ) were raised
from single egg masses and propagated on tomato seedlings for
two generations. Inocula were prepared by macerating infected
roots using a blender. Eggs and J2 were collected on a 25-μm pore
sieve and gently rinsed with sterilized water into a 250-mL glass
beaker. Three 1-mL samples were taken with a pipette to estimate
numbers of eggs and J2 under a stereomicroscope.
Eleven cultivars of P. vera and six accessions of wild Pistachio
spp. were selected for evaluation of resistance to these isolates.
Seedling pots were arranged in a randomized complete block
design with four replications of each plant genotype and nematode
isolate combination. P. vera seedlings were at the 4-6 leaf stage
of development and wild accessions were 3-month-old seedlings
when inoculation was done. Each seedling was inoculated with
1x104 eggs and J2 of nematode isolate. Control plants were
inoculated with water and maintained in a greenhouse. Pots
were watered every three days and fertilized weekly with a 0.5%
Hoagland solution for 135 days.
136 Resistance evaluation of the Pistachio rootstocks to Meloidogyne species in Iran

Table 2. Nematode sampling location, host and test applied to identify Meloidogyne population used population, soil from each pot was
No. Province-Location Host Species Species identification transferred onto a tray, mixed and
a sub sample of 250 cm3 taken for
1 Esfahan-Ardestan P. vera M. incognita Perineqal pattern, J2
nematodes extraction by elutriation and
2 Esfahan-Natanz P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2 centrifuge (Lo´pez-Pe´rez et al., 2005).
3 Esfahan-Khor va Biabanak P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2-IEF* The host reaction was determined as
4 Esfahan-Khoram dasht-1 P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2 resistant (GI ≤ 2, RF <1), tolerant (GI
≤ 2, RF >1), hyper-susceptible (GI ≥
5 Esfahan- Khoram dasht-2 P. vera M. sp (un identified) Peineal pattern, J2
2, RF <1), and susceptible (GI > 2, RF
6 Esfahan-Chopanan P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2 >1) (Canto-Saenz, 1987). Rootstock
7 Esfahan-Mazrae Nemoneh P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2 reaction was interpreted either based
8 Esfahan-Alah Abad P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2 on GI and EI (Taylor and Sasser, 1978),
or using index of R (Trudgill, 1991).
9 Esfahan-Amir Abad P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2
Data analysis: Data on gall and egg
10 Esfahan-Mesr P. vera, Cabbage M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2
mass numbers (GN and EN) per root
11 Esfahan-Frah zad P. vera, Cabbage M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2 system were subjected to analysis of
12 Esfahan-Jandagh P. vera, weeds M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2 variance using SAS, version 7.1. Mean
13 Esfahan-Arosan P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2 comparison of data were performed
and significance differences in
14 Esfahan-Golestan P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2
means of nematode reproduction
15 Esfahan-Neishabor P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2 were separated using Duncan’s test
16 Esfahan-Kashan-Sabahi P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2-IEF with significant differences at 5%
17 Esfahan-Kashan-Kaghazi P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2-IEF probability and differences among
treatments were determined for each
18 Esfahan-Kashan-Ghale gosheh P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2
nematode population by cultivar.
19 Yazd-Ardekan P. vera M. javanica Peineal pattern, J2-IEF
20 Kerman-Zarand P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2 Results
21 Kerman-Zarand P. vera M. sp (un identified) Peineal pattern, J2 A total of 36 indigenous P. vera and
22 Kerman-Anar P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2 16 wild accessions were collected
23 Kerman-Rafsanjan P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2 during the survey, from which 11

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cultivars and six wild accessions were
24 Kerman-Heidar abad P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2
selected for resistance assessment
25 Kerman-Heidar abad P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2 (Table 1). Preliminary identification
26 Kerman-Davaran P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern-IEF of RKN from soil samples revealed
27 Kerman-Davaran P. vera M. javanica Peineal pattern, J2 the presence of two species, M.
incognita and M. pistachio in 27
28 Kerman-Davaran P. vera Meloidogyne (un Peineal pattern, J2
of sampling locations (Table 2).
29 Kerman-Naserieh P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2 , J2 Meloidogyne incognita was identified
30 Kerman-Naserieh P. vera M. incognita Peineal pattern, J2 in 25 sampling areas from either
pistachio roots or weeds, whereas
Species in bold were used for the final experiment on resistance test. *IEF: Isoelctrofocusing
M. javanica was identified from the
After harvest, the roots were gently washed with tap water, and pistachio roots in two locations from Yazd province (Ardekan)
placed in beakers containing approximately 400 mL of 0.05 % and Kerman province (Davaran). Three populations collected
Phloxin B solution for 10 to 15 min to stain the egg masses a from pistachio roots, one from province of Esfahan (Khoramdasht
bright red color. Each root system was scored for nematode galls 2), and two from province of Kerman (Zarand and Davaran),
(gall index=GI) based on 0 to 5 scale where 0= no gall, 1=1 to could not be identified to species level due their unusual perineal
2, 2=3 to 10, 3=11 to 30, 4=31 to 100 and 5= >100 galls (Safdar pattern morphology. Esterase and malate dehydrogenase IEF
and McKenry, 2007). The length and weight of each root and protein profile, electron microscopy of perineal pattern, J2
stem were measured. morphology and morphometric obtained for the selected isolates
of M. incognita (Mi-K, Mi-P, Mi-KH, Mi-RD) and M. javanica
The reproduction factor (RF) was quantified based on R=Pf/Pi,
(MJ), were in agreement with published data (Karssen et al.,
where Pf and Pi were final and initial population densities,
1995) and confirmed the identity of these isolates.
respectively (Zhou and Starr, 2003). For calculation of Pf, the
J2 per root system was estimated by macerating the roots using In the greenhouse screening test, egg mass number per seedling
a blender with 1% NaOCl solution. Because eggs viability was ranged from 1 to 167 for P. vera cultivars inoculated with M.
not a concern the higher concentration of 1% NaOCl was used to incognita (Table 3). The mean number of eggs masses across
increase the extraction efficiency (Zhou et al., 2000). Released all pistachio cultivars for the four isolates of M. incognita ranged
eggs and J2 were collected on a 25-μm pore sieve and then from 41.4 to 61.4, whereas the means across all four nematode
counted under a stereomicroscope. To quantify the soil nematode isolates for the cultivars ranged from 11 to 114.7. For the egg
 Resistance evaluation of the Pistachio rootstocks to Meloidogyne species in Iran 137

Table 3. Egg mass production by four isolates of M. incognita on eleven Table 4. Root gall production by four isolates of M. incognita on eleven
cultivars of pistachio in a greenhouse test. Abbreviation for pistachio cultivars of pistachio in a greenhouse test. Abbreviation for pistachio
cultivar are given in table 1. Cultivars with the same letter not differ cultivar are given in table 1. Cultivars with the same letter not differ
significantly (P <0.05) significantly (P <0.05)

Mi-Kh Mi-RD Mi-K Mi-P Mean Mi - Kh Mi-RD Mi-K Mi-P Mean

Kh-Ra 28.0 4.0 1.0 3.3 11a Kh-Ra 147.5 30.8 39.0 21.3 59.7c
Bad-Ra 139.7 65.5 24.3 12.5 60.5d Bad-Ra 281.5 170.7 69.0 22.8 136.0ab
Ard 29.3 18.5 37.7 21.3 26.7b Ard 51.7 67.5 75.7 48.7 60.9c
Gh 7.3 7.0 4.0 52.5 17.7a Gh 15.8 29.5 10.0 58.3 28.4d
Bo1 54.0 57.7 21.7 25.0 39.6bc Bo1 82.6 89.8 72.7 56.5 75.4bc
Dam-Mam 15.3 16.7 15.0 72.0 29.8b Dam-Mam 47.0 47.0 21.0 93.5 52.1c
Fa-Ra 10.5 68.5 73.5 20.7 43.3c Fa-Ra 190.0 147.3 88.0 55.0 120.1b
Bo2 30.3 50.5 72.3 28.0 45.3c Bo2 71.7 143.0 85.5 58.0 89.6c
Sar 28.5 9.5 15.3 39.3 23.2b Sar 69.3 34.7 18.5 42.5 41.3d
Fa-Kh 54.0 58.7 68.0 33.8 53.6c Fa-Kh 51.5 113.7 80.0 117.0 90.6bc
Kh-Dam 130.0 98.5 167.0 63.3 114.7e Kh-Dam 187.5 148.7 237.5 89.3 165.8a
Mean 47.9a 41.4a 45.4a 61.4a 42.3c Mean 108.7a 93.0b 72.4abc 60.3c 83.6ab
mass production in P. vera cultivars, there was no significant can restrict planting of pistachio, especially in loamy sandy soil.
differences among isolates across the cultivars; however, a Although sites with potential infestation of RKN were targeted
significant difference in mean value of egg mass number was in this study, wide distribution of RKN in pistachio orchards,
observed by cultivar among the four nematode isolates (Table especially in nurseries, were observed causing damage and
3). Two-way analysis of variance for the gall number also reduction of yield in pistachio trees. M. incognita was identified
revealed significant differences in gall production among cultivars in most of the sampling areas and detected in more than 80% of
across all nematode isolates. Differences were observed in gall soil samples. This species was the most prevalent RKNs found
production among nematode. Nematodes isolate of Mi-K and in pistachio orchards. Although M. javanica was identified only
Mi-P both collected from Kashan province were significantly in two locations, it appears to be the second important member
different in gall production and separated from the rest of of RKNs in terms of spreading and causing damage in pistachio

populations (Table 4).
Analysis of data from the wild accessions showed there were
no significant differences among nematodes isolates across
the accessions for either gall and egg mass production (Table
5). Mean value of gall number in Pw-Te-Aus3 and Pw-At-
Cab accessions showed significant differences with the rest of
accession. Mean value of egg mass number in Pw-At-Mu and
Pw-At-Aus2 accession showed significant difference compared
to other accessions for production of egg mass.
Discussion
The main aim of the present study was to identifying possible
source of resistance through screening of cultivated pistachio root
stocks and wild accession. During the survey and based on our
observation and results of the experiments, RKNs obviously are
among the most important pistachio root disease in Iran which
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orchards. Possible presence of other Meloidogyne species on
pistachio is likely, where an unusual perineal patterns morphology
in three populations collected from pistachio roots in Esfahan
province (Khoramdasht 2), and Kerman province (Zarand and
Davaran) was observed. More study needed to confirm the
identity of these populations.
Usefulness of wild germplasm as source of resistance to plant
parasitic nematodes has been emphasized by other researches
(Yaghoobi, et al., 1995). From this preliminary study it appears
that a wide range of reaction from resistance to highly susceptible
is present in pistachio root stocks against M. incognita. In addition,
identifying the pistachio cultivar used as rootstocks is crucial in
resistance experiments, especially when study of different flora from
Iran and neighbor countries showed the differences in nomenclature
or speciation of pistachio cultivars. In resistance experiments, study
of cultivars and nematodes originated from the same geographic

Table 5. Mean comparison of egg mass (EN) and gall numbers (GN), of six accessions of wild Pistachio species against Meloidogyne incognita in
green house experiment. Data are from four replicates. Abbreviation for pistachio cultivar are given in Table 1. Cultivars with the same letter not
differ significantly (P <0.05)
Cultivar/code Mi-Kh Mi-RD Mi-K Mi-P Mean
GN EN GN EN GN EN GN EN GN EN
Pw-At-Aus2 22.3 30.3 27 23.5 23.5 20 26.8 27 25.2c 24.9c
Pw-Te-Aus3 7 1.5 7 1.8 6.3 1.3 3 3.5 2.0a 5.8a
Pw-At-Mu 6.5 22 5.8 6.3 6.3 1.5 36 24.5 13.6b 13.7b
Pw-At-Cab 7.5 2.3 5.5 8 4.5 0.5 7.5 12 5.7a 6.3a
Pw-Kh1 8.3 29.8 9.3 28.5 9 45.3 9 28.5 33.0c 8.9a
Pw-Kh2 9.3 31.8 7.3 30.5 9.8 46.5 9.5 17.8 34.2c 9.00a
Mean 10.2a 19.6a 10.3a 16.4a 9.9a 19.2a 15.3a 20.6a
138 Resistance evaluation of the Pistachio rootstocks to Meloidogyne species in Iran
0region is more validated due to co-evolution of the two organisms.
In this study pistachio seeds and nematode samples were collected
from the same location. It is assumed that the root galling is not
more accurate indicator for the stability of RKN resistance (Safdar
and McKenry, 2007; Zhou et al., 2000), therefore, in this study the
virtual number of egg mass were also used for analysis of root stocks
reaction. Nematode population from soil and roots were extracted
and used for study of virulence and pathogenicity of the different
population (data not shown). This provide valuable data for further
study on resistance of pistachio root stocks against RKNs.
In some sampling area severe disease symptoms were observed
on above ground parts of pistachio trees while infestation of RKN
was low and in some areas trees showing mild symptoms had
severely infested roots to nematodes. This was in accordance with
greenhouse experiments where the same phenomenon was observed
in some of the cultivar nematode interaction. This indicates the
presence of varying level of resistance/susceptibility among cultivars
and existence of variation in nematode population in terms of
pathogenicity and virulence. Range of variation was more limited in
wild accession compare to the domestic pistachio cultivars.
For most of the nematode cultivar interaction there was a positive
correlation between gall and eggmass numbers, however it was
observed that some cultivar with high number of galls did not
support nematode reproduction. In addition, less variability
in mean value of eggmass production was observed between
nematode isolates than between cultivars. This shows that
cultivars represent more variability in terms of supporting
nematode reproduction. The same was observed for wild
accession with nematodes isolates. Almost all of the nematode
isolates caused galling and high rate of reproduction on pistachio
cultivars. This is the first report on evaluation of pistachio
cultivars used as root stocks in Iran. This provides preliminary
information on identifying source of resistance. More studies are
needed to understand the host pathogen interaction in orchard and
trial plot. Study of differential interaction of nematode population
will reveal more details on this phenomenon.
Acknowledgements
Authors are thankful to James, L. Starr and C. Abivardi for
reviewing this paper carefully, Z. Banihashemi and Sh. Dehghani
for providing some of the pistachio seeds. This work is dedicated
to Ahmad Akhiani for his major participation in this work, who
passed away while this research was being conducted.
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Received: March, 2012; Revised: July, 2012; Accepted: October, 2012