current projects
Globodera Research
- Potato cyst nematode diversity in South America
- Search for additional sources of plant resistance against potato cyst nematodes
- Updated assessment of PCN in Guatemala
Potato Research
- Development of decision support tools for potato growers
- Impact of varying initial densities of root-knot nematodes on yield and tuber quality of potato varieties
- Researchers at the USDA-ARS and Oregon State University are conducting research to better understand the interaction between nematode infestation and tuber size and quality. A field trial including three of the top russet potatoes, Ranger Russet, Russet Burbank, and Clearwater, is underway to compare varying densities of M. hapla and M. chitwoodi infestation and their overall impacts on tubers.
- Development of qPCR primer/probe for Meloidogyne hapla Identification
- Additionally, quantitative PCR can be a useful tool for nematode diagnostics and work is underway to develop a qPCR primer/probe for M. hapla detection. Soil sampling throughout Oregon and Washington combined with qPCR diagnostics will contribute to an updated view of M. hapla presence and distribution across the Pacific Northwest region.
- Evaluation of litchi tomato for nematode management in potato and other cropping systems
- A proposed management strategy for the root-knot nematodes (RKN) Meloidogyne hapla and M. chitwoodi in potato, vegetables, and wine grapes is a wild solanum species known as litchi tomato, Solanum sisymbriifolium, which has been found to significantly decrease populations of potato cyst nematodes and possess antagonistic properties towards RKN. Unfortunately, litchi tomato is also classified as an invasive species in many areas, so applications of this species are limited and require creative solutions. Incorporation assays utilizing aboveground and belowground materials have demonstrated varying impacts to the infection capabilities of M. hapla into Rutgers tomato, Lycopersicon lycopersicum, roots. This method has been employed in greenhouse assays, comparing incorporation of various quantities of freeze-dried plant material, and in microplot assays, comparing incorporation of recently harvested plant material to fallow and potato, Solanum tuberosum. Additionally, evaluation of extracts from litchi tomato plant material on the hatch of M. hapla and subsequent infection of Rutgers tomato have been performed but data is still being collected before a determination on the level of impact can be made.
- Vertical Distribution of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Soil
- This project is aimed at gaining a better understanding of vertical movement of nematodes over the course of a year. Nematodes are known to migrate up and down in the soil following detection of soil temperature and moisture gradients. What we don't know is how this occurs over a year and if we are sampling to appropriate depths to give a true estimate of the nematode populations present. Growers are also concerned the nematodes may be migrating deeper into the soil profile which also decreases the effectiveness of many management strategies. The typical sampling depth is 18" but this project is collecting samples down to 36" to determine if this impacts the population estimates made following extraction. This research will be focusing on the vertical distribution of root-knot, stubby root, and root lesion nematodes over the course of a year in March, June, September, and December in three potato fields in Oregon and Washington.
Our lab is part of a national research lead by the University of Idaho on Globodera called the Globodera Alliance (GLOBAL). This is a USDA-NIFA funded project that includes researchers from the University of Idaho, USDA-ARS, Cornell University, Oregon State University, Agriculture Canada, and the James Hutton Institute. Visit the GLOBAL website at globodera.org to learn more.
We thank the Northwest Potato Consortium and USDA-APHIS for funding this research.
We thank the Northwest Potato Consortium and USDA-APHIS for funding this research.