VIEW ARTICLE

Interactions of the Root Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita and the Stubby Root Nematode Trichodorus christiei with Verticillium albo-atrum on Tomato at Controlled Inoculum Densities. J. J. Conroy, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907; R. J. Green, Jr., Professor of Plant Pathology, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907. Phytopathology 64:1118-1121. Accepted for publication 19 March 1974. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-64-1118.

The effect of the root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita and the stubby root nematode Trichodorus christiei on the incidence of infection of tomato cultivar Bonny Best by Verticillium albo-atrum was determined. Effects of the fungus + nematode interaction on nematode reproduction and on host root development were also studied. Environmental conditions and the inoculum densities of both the nematodes and the fungus were controlled. A change in the infection incidence by the fungus was the criterion of interaction. The infection incidence increased at most fungal inoculum densities when T. christiei was also present, however, no consistent increases occurred with M. incognita. The infection incidence by V. albo-atrum also increased as the inoculation density of T. christiei was increased. Infection by the fungus did not enhance reproduction of either nematode in or on the host roots; however, an increase in root wt occurred when both the fungus and T. christiei were present.