Taxonomic Support for Diagnostics of Plant Parasitic Nematodes in the Vegetable Industry and Development of a CD ROM Library of Nematode Pests
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Taxonomic support for diagnostics of plant parasitic nematodes in the vegetable industry and development of a CD ROM library of nematode pests Dr Jackie Nobbs SA Research & Development Institute Project Number: VG98102 VG98102 This report is published by Horticulture Australia Ltd to pass on information concerning horticultural research and development undertaken for the vegetable industry. The research contained in this report was funded by Horticulture Australia Ltd with the financial support of the vegetable industry. All expressions of opinion are not to be regarded as expressing the opinion of Horticulture Australia Ltd or any authority of the Australian Government. The Company and the Australian Government accept no responsibility for any of the opinions or the accuracy of the information contained in this report and readers should rely upon their own enquiries in making decisions concerning their own interests. ISBN 0 7341 0741 2 Published and distributed by: Horticultural Australia Ltd Level 1 50 Carrington Street Sydney NSW 2000 Telephone: (02) 8295 2300 Fax: (02) 8295 2399 E-Mail: [email protected] © Copyright 2003 Final Project Report Horticulture Australia Project Number – VG98102 Project Title : Production of a CD-Rom on the Plant Parasitic Nematodes of Australia in the vegetable, grains and sugarcane industries Author’s : Dr. Jacqueline Nobbs and Dr Sharyn Taylor Research Provider : HAL, GRDC, SRDC, SARDI Horticulture Australia project number – VG98102 Program / Project Leaders – Dr. J.M. Nobbs, Field Crops Pathology Unit, SARDI, GPO Box 397, Adelaide SA 5001 [email protected]. Purpose of the report Within this project a CD-Rom was produced which provides information concerning techniques used in the identification of plant parasitic nematodes, descriptions of the main plant parasitic nematodes recorded from Australia and specific information on plant parasitic nematodes important to the grains, sugarcane and vegetable industries. This report summarises the methods used to produce the CD-Rom. An updated edition of “Plant parasitic nematodes of Australia – vegetable crops” was also compiled and published. A diagnostic service was available to growers and researchers of vegetable (and other horticultural crops). Acknowledgement We wish to acknowledge Horticulture Australia, the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the Sugar Research and Development Corporation for funding this project Date of Report: ___________________ Disclaimer: Any recommendations contained in this publication do not necessarily represent current Horticulture Australia policy. No person should act on the basis of the contents of this publication, whether as to matters of fact or opinion or other content without first obtaining specific, independent professional advice in respect of the matters set out in this publication. Content Page. Sections Page Number Content page 1 Media Summary 2 Technical Summary 3 Introduction 4 Materials and Methods 5 Results 6 Discussion 7 Technology Transfer 8 Recommendations – scientific and industry 9 Acknowledgements 9 Bibliography 9 Appendix A : Outline of the CD-Rom : Plant parasitic nematodes of Australia 10 Appendix B : Proforma of the datasheets – general nematode descriptions 11 Appendix C : Extension articles, media releases, scientific publications and 13 conference proceedings Appendix D : “Plant Parasitic Nematodes of Australia – vegetables” content page 14 1 Media summary: Plant parasitic nematodes are a major limiting factor in the production of horticultural crops in Australia. They feed on plant roots or shoots, causing damage to plant cells and affecting the absorption of nurtients and water. The major genera of concern are root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne sp.) in the tropical and subtropical areas, and cyst nematodes (Heterodera and Globodera) in temperate areas. Root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus) and stem nematode (Ditylenchus) can also cause damage to vegetable crops. Identification of nematode genera and species is important in determining control strategies to minimise damage to crops. This CD-Rom, “Plant Parasitic Nematodes of Australia” provides information concerning the identification of plant nematodes, how nematodes are extracted from soil and plants and control strategies for the vegetable industries. The information is provided in the form of a web site enabling easy navigation from one section to another. Those sections considered to be of most interest to growers are differentiated from those of interest to researchers. A revised version of “Plant Parasitic Nematodes of Australia” has been published within this project which provides information concerning distribution of plant parasitic nematodes in Australia. The three major Australian nematode slide collections are currently being databased and it is recommended that when a complete database of all slide collections is finalised, a new edition be published which provides information concerning voucher specimens and their location within Australia. This will be of benefit in determining and prioritising quarantine threats. A diagnostic service was provided for researchers and growers and an extension pamphlet was prepared which was made available to Horticulture Australia. The service was publicised on the SARDI web site and to fellow researchers throughout Australia. Over 100 samples were received with new records made including the identification of the root knot nematode (Meloidogyne fallax) on potatoes, white clover and carrots in the south east of South Australia. 2 Technical summary Correct identification of plant parasitic nematodes is essential when determining whether plant parasites are the cause of disease within a crop. The CD-Rom “Plant Parasitic Nematodes of Australia – vegetables, sugarcane and grains” is designed as a Web Site with each section divided into pages which can be accessed by clicking on icons or headings. The CD-Rom was developed using HTML to enable compatibility with a range of comupter systems. A Home Page is included which describes how to use the CD-Rom. An outline of the organisation of the CD-Rom as well as a description of the different sections is presented on the Main Page (see Appendix A). The CD-Rom has been divided into three main sections titled Techniques, Nematodes and Crops. Each section has information which is considered to be of interest to growers and industry or researchers, students, and quarantine officers as indicated by either a G (for grower/industry) or R (for researchers, students and quarantine officers). While all sections can be accessed, this information will allow specific areas of interest to be identified more rapidly. Identification of plant parasitic nematodes is dependant on using reliable extraction methods, assessing specimens under a dissecting microscope, processing and mounting of specimens on slides and observation of morphological characters (including measurements). The CD-Rom details extraction techniques commonly used in Australia as well as the recommended methods for processing and mounting nematode specimens for observation and producing permanent slides. A discussion of the use of DNA techniques in nematode identification is also included as well as and a brief description of how nematode specimens can be processed for DNA extraction and sequencing. The Appendix section details the characters useful in species identification as well as a Glossary of terms used within the CD- Rom. The Nematode section within the CD-Rom provides information on nematodes, how they affect plants and their general morphology. The characters used to separate the nematode groups, including photographs and drawings of nematode genera have been provided as well as information about general control measures used for plant parasitic nematodes. The new edition of “Plant parasitic nematodes of Australia” which has information about the records of plant parasitic nematodes, their host plants has also been included. Further work is recommended to confirm and up date from the Queensland, Victorian and South Australian nematode slide collections. The final section within the CD-Rom contains information about the importance of plant parasitic nematodes in the grain, sugarcane and vegetable industries, and gives the important characters used to identify the species of plant parasitic nematodes recorded from each crop, control methods specific to each industry, and fact sheets which detail information about the main species of plant parasitic nematodes considered to be the most important for each industry. Information contained in this section of the CD-Rom is intended to be used to set up individual Web Sites for the grain, vegetable and sugarcane plant parasitic nematodes with links to individual industry Web Sites (Horticulture Australia, Grains Research and Development Corporation and the Sugar Research and Development Corporation). A diagnostic service has been available for researchers and growers of vegetable crops throughout this project. More than 100 samples have processed with new records of plant parasitic nematodes made, the most important of which has been Meloidogyne fallax on potato and carrot. This record was published in the Australasian Plant Pathology (see Appendix C) as a new disease record. Further work is recommended to collate information on nematodes for other sections of the horticultural industry such as tree crops (apple and citrus). Information on all the plant parasitic nematodes recorded from Australia have been