| dc.description.abstract | Four studies were conducted to investigate plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) of corn and soybean in ND. The first study investigated the incidence and abundance of vermiform PPN in ND corn fields in 2015 and 2016. Samples were collected from 300 corn fields across 20 counties. Seventy-two percent of the fields were positive for PPN. The major genera of PPN identified were Helicotylenchus, Tylenchorhynchus, Paratylenchus, Pratylenchus, Heterodera, Xiphinema, Hoplolaimus, and Paratrichodorus. The second study characterized SCN (SCN; Heterodera glycines) virulence phenotypes in ND. A total of 419 soybean fields across 22 counties were sampled during 2015, 2016, and 2017. Among these samples, 73 SCN field populations were successfully virulence phenotyped using the HG type tests. The HG types that were detected and confirmed in ND were HG type 0, 7, 2.5.7, 5.7, 1.2.5.7, and 2.7. The third study developed a new molecular method for detecting and identifying a new Pratylenchus sp. discovered in a soybean field in ND. A species-specific primer set, that can be used in both conventional and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, was designed from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA. Laboratory experiments confirmed that the primers only amplified DNA of the target nematode species but not the non-target species used in the specificity tests. Practically, DNA from as little as a single nematode could be used to specifically identify the new Pratylenchus sp. using the molecular diagnostic methods developed in this study. The fourth study was conducted to ascertain resistance levels of 20 soybean cultivars to the new Pratylenchus sp. Combined results of four trials indicated that seven of the cultivars were moderately resistant, ten were moderately susceptible, four were susceptible, and none of the cultivars tested were resistant. Analysis of the habitat preference of the new Pratylenchus sp., revealed that above or close to 50% of the nematode population resided in roots at nine weeks after planting for a majority of the cultivars evaluated. Results from these studies will be helpful in improving nematode detection and developing management strategies to control plant-parasitic nematodes in ND corn and soybean fields. | en_US |
