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A technique to evaluate the root-knot nematode resistance of grape seedlings was developed. Seedlings of rootstock crosses and nematode-susceptible Vitis vinifera cvs. Colombard and Carignane were inoculated with Meloidogyne incognita juveniles. Reproduction of nematodes on individual plants was measured by counting the number of egg masses stained with eosin and the number of eggs present. Egg mass counts were highly correlated with egg counts. Resistant and susceptible cultivars could be clearly distinguished by the number of egg masses produced on vegetatively propagated cuttings. It is concluded that egg mass counting can substitute for the more laborious and time-consuming methods of counting nematode eggs or juveniles in the evaluation of root-knot nematode resistance in Vitis.

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The grape Vitis champinii Planchon is one source of nematode resistance in grape rootstocks. Several selections valued for their resistance to the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita), a serious pest of grape production, are used as rootstocks and in rootstock variety development. However, V. champinii-based rootstock varieties are faulted for their excess vigor and susceptibility to other root pests. Root-knot nematode populations with the ability to damage important V. champinii-based rootstocks have been identified and may become more common. Other V. champinii accessions might be sources of nematode resistance genes with different specificities or might have more suitable horticultural characteristics than V. champinii varieties in commercial use. Nine V. champinii accessions from the National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Davis, Calif., and a V. champinii rootstock variety were screened for resistance to M. incognita. Resistance was assessed by counting eggs produced per root system. Eight of ten V. champinii accessions did not support nematode reproduction. Susceptible accessions supported lower nematode reproduction than susceptible V. vinifera control varieties. Progeny testing from crosses of resistant and susceptible accessions suggests that a dominant and a recessive gene may condition root-knot nematode resistance.