<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Plant-parasitic, root-knot nematodes (<italic>Meloidogyne</italic> spp.) are a serious problem in agri- and horticultural crops worldwide. Understanding their complex host recognition process is essential for devising efficient and environmental-friendly management tactics. In this study, the authors report a new, simple, inexpensive, efficient, and quantitative method to analyze the chemotaxis of <italic>M. incognita</italic> second-stage juveniles (J2s) using a combination of pluronic gel and agar in a petri dish. The authors quantitatively defined the concentration gradient formation of acid fuchsin on the assay plate. Using this novel assay method, the authors have accurately measured the nematode response (attraction or repulsion) to various volatile (isoamyl alcohol, 1-butanol, benzaldehyde, 2-butanone, and 1-octanol) and non-volatile (root exudates of tomato, tobacco, and marigold) compounds. Isoamyl alcohol, 1-butanol, and 2-butanone were attractive to J2s through a broad range of concentrations. On the contrary, J2s were repelled when exposed to various concentrations of 1-octanol. Despite being attractive at lower concentrations, undiluted benzaldehyde was repulsive to J2s. Tomato and tobacco root exudates were attractive to J2s while marigold root exudates repelled J2s. The present quantitative assay method could be used as a reference to screen and identify new candidate molecules that attract or repel nematodes.</p>
</abstract>

Plant-parasitic, root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are a serious problem in agri- and horticultural crops worldwide. Understanding their complex host recognition process is essential for devising efficient and environmental-friendly management tactics. In this study, the authors report a new, simple, inexpensive, efficient, and quantitative method to analyze the chemotaxis of M. incognita second-stage juveniles (J2s) using a combination of pluronic gel and agar in a petri dish. The authors quantitatively defined the concentration gradient formation of acid fuchsin on the assay plate. Using this novel assay method, the authors have accurately measured the nematode response (attraction or repulsion) to various volatile (isoamyl alcohol, 1-butanol, benzaldehyde, 2-butanone, and 1-octanol) and non-volatile (root exudates of tomato, tobacco, and marigold) compounds. Isoamyl alcohol, 1-butanol, and 2-butanone were attractive to J2s through a broad range of concentrations. On the contrary, J2s were repelled when exposed to various concentrations of 1-octanol. Despite being attractive at lower concentrations, undiluted benzaldehyde was repulsive to J2s. Tomato and tobacco root exudates were attractive to J2s while marigold root exudates repelled J2s. The present quantitative assay method could be used as a reference to screen and identify new candidate molecules that attract or repel nematodes.

A novel in vitro chemotaxis bioassay to assess the response of <italic>Meloidogyne incognita</italic> towards various test compounds

Journal of Nematology

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A novel in vitro chemotaxis bioassay to assess the response of  towards various test compounds

running-head

Plant-parasitic, root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are a serious problem in agri- and horticultural crops worldwide. Understanding their complex host...

A novel in vitro chemotaxis bioassay to assess the response of Meloidogyne incognita towards various test compounds

Published Online: Dec 03, 2018

Page range: 487 - 494

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2018-047

Keywords
Agarose, Attraction, Diluents, Odorants, Pluronic gel, Repulsion, Root exudates

© 2018 Tagginahalli N et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

A novel in vitro chemotaxis bioassay to assess the response of Meloidogyne incognita towards various test compounds

Published Online: Dec 03, 2018

Page range: 487 - 494

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2018-047

KeywordsAgarose, Attraction, Diluents, Odorants, Pluronic gel, Repulsion, Root exudates

© 2018 Tagginahalli N et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Agarose, Attraction, Diluents, Odorants, Pluronic gel, Repulsion, Root exudates