Mineral composition of beetroot treated with potential elicitors and inoculated with Meloidogyne javanica

Abstract

Background The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica can infect beetroots, causing extensive damage to this food crop. As chemical and genetic control tactics have shown limited efficacy, new strategies are needed to improve the integrated management of this parasite. This study assessed the influence of potential defence elicitors and M. javanica infection on the mineral composition of beetroot. Plants were treated with acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), citrus biomass, or a mannanoligosaccharide-based product (MOS) and inoculated with 1000 eggs and second-stage juveniles of M. javanica. At 60 days after inoculation, beetroot plants were harvested and evaluated for nematode population density, vegetative growth, and mineral content. Results All potential elicitors reduced nematode population density in beetroots (p ≤ 0.10) and improved the vegetative parameters of inoculated plants (p ≤ 0.05), except shoot fresh weight. Some minerals were found to be negatively affected by treatments, particularly calcium, whose levels were consistently lower in treated plants. On the other hand, M. javanica inoculation increased magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, and copper contents in beetroots. However, the latter mineral (Cu content) of inoculated plants was positively influenced by MOS and ASM. Conclusion Potential elicitor treatments did not improve the mineral composition of beetroot, but were effective in reducing nematode population density. Plants inoculated with M. javanica had higher mineral levels. However, gall formation decreases the commercial value of the crop and might render it unsuitable for commercialisation. M. javanica-infected beetroots may be used for nutrient extraction or sold to food processing industries.

Chemical composition and antioxidant properties of beetroot parasitized by Meloidogyne javanica and treated with elicitors

“…The inoculum was deposited in four 3 cm deep equidistant holes made in the soil around the base of each plant, which were covered with soil following application. At 20 days after nematode inoculation, the aerial part of beetroot plants received a second application of elicitor treatment (Débia et al, 2020b).…”

“…Plant-parasitic nematodes can negatively affect the health of beetroot plants, resulting in yield losses and alterations in nutritional quality (Débia et al, 2020a;2020b;Castanheira et al, 2020;2021). The nematodes Débia et al (2023) Chemical composition and antioxidant pr...…”