Response of different potato cultivars to the presence of Nacobbus aberrans.

Abstract

Nacobbus aberrans occurs in temperate and subtropical areas of South and North America. In Argentina, the species is widely distributed although accurate knowledge of the host range is unknown for many populations. In this work the reproductive capacity of three Argentine populations of different geographical origin was evaluated on four potato cultivars (Spunta, Kennebec, Colorada, and Asterix); histological studies were conducted on root tissues of inoculated plants from each cultivar. Two N. aberrans populations from Córdoba province were not able to reproduce on those cultivars; no evidence of the nematode presence was detected in root tissues. The remaining population, which was from Catamarca province, induced gall formation in all cultivars. Histological studies showed hyperplastic parenchymatous tissue occupying the central cylinder of invaded roots. In the same zone, syncytia developed closely associated with females of the nematode. The results showed different responses of potato cultivars to the presence of the N. aberrans populations.