Dual Cultures of Grape (Vitis spp.) and the Lesion Nematode (Pratylenchus vulnus) for Studies of Nematode Tolerance. Joseph M. Palys, Research Assistant, Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis 95616. Carole P. Meredith, Assistant Professor, Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis 95616. Plant Dis. 68:1058-1060. Accepted for publication 12 May 1984. Copyright 1984 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-68-1058.

A method for establishing aseptic dual cultures of rooted shoot tips and excised roots of grape (Vitis spp.) and the lesion nematode Pratylenchus vulnus is reported. Cultures established by this method were maintained for more than 3 mo. Both root lesion formation and nematode reproduction were observed. In preliminary experiments, differential nematode reproduction and lesion formation on nematode-susceptible vs. nematode-tolerant grape genotypes were observed, indicating that differential plant nematode tolerance may be expressed in this system.