Effect of Storage Environment on Hatching of the Cyst Nematode Globodera ellingtonae

Abstract

Globodera spp. eggs go through a diapause, which remains dormant until favorable hatching conditions are reached. Because of the regulatory concerns with cyst nematodes, it is often only possible to rear eggs for research in the greenhouse. However, hatch is often lower for greenhouse-produced eggs than for eggs obtained from the field. The goal of this research was to determine storage conditions for Globodera ellingtonae eggs produced in the greenhouse that would increase percentage hatch. Over 3 yr, G. ellingtonae greenhouse-produced eggs were stored in different environments (−20°C, 4°C, room temperature, and the field) in either dry or moist soil. Percentage hatch after exposure to the different environments was determined in potato root diffusate. Across two experiments, field-produced eggs had higher hatch rates (65.2%) than greenhouse-produced eggs (10.4%). Temperature did not have an appreciable influence on hatch of eggs stored dry in two experiments (2.8% to 8.4% and 3.8% to 8.6%), but hatch of eggs stored in moist soil was significantly higher than in dry soil at all temperatures except −20°C (26.8% and 28.7%). However, the ability of G. ellingtonae greenhouse-, microplot-, and field-produced eggs to reproduce on potato in field microplots was not different. Although it may not be possible to produce G. ellingtonae eggs in the greenhouse that have the magnitude of hatch as those produced in the field, hatching can be greatly increased by storing eggs in moist soil at either 4°C or room temperature.