Techniques for Determining Reproduction of Meloidogyne graminis on Zoysiagrass and Bermudagrass. J. J. Murray, Research Agronomist, USDA-ARS, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705. T. E. Poole, Extension Agent, Agricultural Science, University of Maryland, College Park 20742; and S. A. Ostazeski, Research Plant Pathologist, W-L Research, Highland, MD 20777. Plant Dis. 70:559-560. Accepted for publication 21 October 1985. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1986. DOI: 10.1094/PD-70-559.

Two techniques were used to evaluate grass species and cultivars for resistance to the pseudo-root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne graminis, in greenhouse tests. After plants of eight species were inoculated with egg masses of M. graminis, the numbers of egg-laying females (ELF) on roots and the numbers of second-stage juveniles (J2) extracted from the soil around the roots were determined. Relative resistance ratings of genotypes based on the quickly derived ELF score on the roots were positively correlated with those based on numbers of juveniles produced on each genotype. More variation in susceptibility to M. graminis was found among bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) entries than among zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica) entries tested. Some resistant bermudagrass genotypes were identified that may be useful on severely infested sites or as sources of germ plasm in a breeding program. None of the zoysiagrasses tested were resistant, but Emerald and Midwest were less susceptible than other genotypes. The possibility of success in breeding for resistance to M. graminis in both species is indicated by the amount of variability found among genotypes tested.