Genetic and Cultural Control of Anthurium Burrowing Nematode Radopholus Citrophilus

Abstract

Cinder medium is able to decrease burrowing nematode damage in 'Alii'. This provides a supplemental method to manage anthurium decline on burrowing nematode intolerant cultivars. Burrowing nematode can invade Anthurium shoot tissues, thus propagation by shoot top cutting cannot guarantee nematode-free planting materials. In vitro screening for burrowing nematode tolerant and resistant cultivars identified 'Midori' as standard tolerant and 'Nitta' as standard susceptible cultivars. Future breeding could select progenies that are more tolerant than 'Midori' and moderately low in nematode parasitism index [log (Rf+1) of progeny / log(Rf+l) of 'Nitta’], where Rf is final nematode number / initial nematode number. Nonparametric parameters and parameters adjusted to initial reading and uninoculated reading are effective in evaluating burrowing nematode tolerance. Based on in vitro screening, Anthurium pittieri and A. ravenii were evaluated as tolerant species. A. rayenii, A. aripoense and A. pittieri were evaluated as resistant species. (Ca+Mg)/K is negatively correlated with burrowing nematode tolerance and resistance in Anthurium and could provide a good marker for nematode resistance and tolerance selection.