Date of Graduation

12-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Plant Pathology (MS)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Plant Pathology

Advisor/Mentor

Travis Faske

Committee Member

Terry Kirkpatrick

Second Committee Member

Kristofor Brye

Keywords

Cotton, Galls, Nematicides, Nematode, Nematology, Plant Pathology, Root-knot, Root Protection, Soybean

Abstract

Plant-parasitic nematodes are major pests of cotton and soybean in Arkansas, and across the Southern United States. These nematodes cause more than $3 billion worth of crop losses each year, in part due to lack of available control tactics, such as nematicides. Fluopyram has recently been registered as a seed-treatment nematicide in agronomic crops. The toxicity of fluopyram against Meloidogyne incognita infection has been reported, however, information on root protection provided by fluopyram against Meloidogyne incognita is lacking. The first objective of this research was to evaluate the effect seed-applied fluopyram had on nematode development, root galling, and reproduction on cotton and soybean roots. Fluopyram significantly reduced nematode penetration, gall development, and reproduction compared to the non-treated control in both cotton and soybean. This effect in root protection was similar to that of an industry standard nematicide, abamectin. Neither nematicide had an effect on nematode post-infection development in soybean and cotton. The second objective was to evaluate the distance in root protection provided by fluopyram-treated seed. Seed-applied fluopyram suppressed the root penetration of second-stage juveniles inoculated at a 2.5- and 5.0-cm depth in cotton, whereas only those inoculated at 2.5 cm were suppressed in soybean. These data indicate that the extent of root protection provided by seed-applied fluopyram has a greater effect on suppression of second-stage juvenile suppression than post-infection development and that protection is greatest in close proximity to the seed. Overall, the degree of nematode protection provided by seed-applied fluopyram was similar to root protection provided by abamectin.

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