Reaction of passion fruit species to Rotylenchulus reniformis and Meloidogyne incognita

Abstract Passion fruit (Passiflora spp.) yield is limited by several factors, including soil pathogens, such as Rotylenchulus reniformis (the reniform nematode) and Meloidogyne incognita (the Southern root-knot nematode). Understanding the behavior of different cultivars, within different species of passion fruit could be important asset to the search for sources of resistance, and therefore for the effective management of phytonematodes. Three trials were carried out in greenhouse to evaluate the resistance/susceptibility of different passion fruit species to R. reniformis and M. incognita. For R. reniformis, cultivars from two species were tested: Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa (‘BRS Sol do Cerrado’, ‘BRS Rubi do Cerrado’ and ‘BRS Gigante Amarelo’) and Passiflora cincinnata (‘BRS Sertão Forte’). Regarding M. incognita, all the cultivars above were evaluated, with the addition of Passiflora setacea (‘BRS Pérola do Cerrado’). The results showed that all tested cultivars were susceptible to the reniform nematode. Conversely, all tested cultivars were immune to root-knot nematode, although exhibiting root galling. Therefore, it is emphasizes the relevance of reniform nematode to passion fruit crops.