Interaction between Meloidogyne enterolobii and Helicotylenchus dihysteroides in guava seedlings

Abstract

HIGHLIGHTS• Individual infection by H. dihysteroides alone or together with the other pathogen did not cause damage in guava plants.• The joint infection by H. dihysteroides and M. enterolobii resulted in a reduction in the final population of H. dihysteroides.• Guava decline only occurs in orchards infested with M. enterolobii with the associated presence of F. solani. ABSTRACT:In order to evaluate the effect of joint infection by Meloidogyne enterolobii and Helicotylenchus dihysteroides on vegetative growth of guava seedlings (Psidium guajava L.), as well as to observe symptoms caused by pathogens in host plants, an experiment was conducted in microplots. In these experimental units, suspensions were used containing H. dihysteroides and M. enterolobii. The plants were separately inoculated with H. dihysteroides and jointly inoculated with H. dihysteroides and M. enterolobii, and the blank controls were represented by noninoculated plants. No significant differences were observed between treatments related to morpho-physiological variables of guava seedlings, but joint inoculation resulted in a reduced final population of H. dihysteroides. It was also concluded that neither infection by H. dihysteroides alone nor a joint infection by the two pathogens caused any damage to guava seedlings.