Phathogenicity of Meloidogyne javanica in function of the size of tray cells and the age of lettuce seedling transplanting - DOI: 10.4025/actasciagron.v28i2.1115

Abstract

The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne species are important diseases of lettuce crop. This one being improved by transplanting as the seedling gets resistance with age. Aiming to get the maximum benefit out of this crop management strategy, combinations of tray cell size and seedling transplanting age were evaluated. The completely randomized experimental design was adopted in a factorial scheme (3 x 3 x 2) + 2, with eight replications. The treatments were the combination of three seedling ages, three tray cell size (with and without inoculation conditions of 10⁵ eggs of Meloidogyne javanica per plant), and two check treatment directly sowing (whether inoculated or not). It was observed that the largest cells allowed to transplant older seedling, but with no resistance increase. The reduction of the growth on plants from directly sowing, in function of parasitism, was 54.4%, and on the transplanted ones was 28.8%. Thus, the stage of seedling showed to be critical, and the transplanting, despite the seedling age, could be considered a strategy to be added to the integrated management of nematode in lettuce crop.