Survival of Radopholus similis (Cobb) in volcanic soils

without host-plant

C. Chabrier, C. Carles, C. Mauriol-Bastol and P. Quénéhervé.

Laboratoire de Nématologie Tropicale, PRAM CIRAD-IRD, BP 214, 97232 Le Lamentin,
Martinique, FWI. chabrier@cirad.fr

Introduction
The burrowing nematode Radopholus similis is the most damaging nematode on bananas. To minimize
applications of nematicide, cropping systems based on fallow, rotation crop, and clean planting material
1- Radopholus similis (Cobb) x 100
have been developed in the French West Indies. Here, we study soil survival of R. similis to optimize the
benefit of the intercropping period and to increase the economical durability of banana cropping systems.
In the herein study, we monitored for six months in the laboratory the survival of calibrated populations of
Radopholus similis on nitisol and andosol, two soils derived from volcanic ashes and pumices. We
studied different water potentials ranging from 0 to -700 kPa, on soil previously treated by frost or
undisturbed.

Material and method

Polystyrene containers were filled up with 40 g of water saturated soil. Then, soil samples were air dried at
27-29 °C and each container was weighted twice a week. As soon as a container reached its requested water
content, we closed it hermetically. When all containers were closed, we added a concentrated suspension
(about 500 R. similis / 200 µL) of R. similis. 2- Polystyrene containers during storage
At 15 different dates (from 1 to 180 days), nematodes present in 6 containers (replicates) of each water
potential were extracted, using Seinhorst elutriation followed by Baermann clarification.
Using this operating procedure, we compared thereby the evolution of population in: 100

 Soils with 5 different water status, from –0 to –700 kPa

% recovered nematodes
75
 2 different types of soils (andosol and nitisol) y = 100e
2
-0,017x

R = 0,72
 Soils previously partially sterilized (by successive freezing) and natural soils. 50
Results
-0,315x
y = 100e
We observed: 25
2
R = 0,999
y = 100e
2
-0,031x

R = 0,76
1. That the evolution of adult individuals follow a decrease that fit well with Texier's model. 0
2. In soils previously treated by frost, R. similis survive longer in wet soil (-0,1 kPa) than in dry soil (- 0 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70
Time between deposit & extraction (days)
100 to -700 kPa). Water potential 0 (saturation) -3 - 300 kPa
3. In undisturbed soils (not sterilized) they survived better in dry soil.
4. Half lives of juveniles were two weeks inferior to half lives of adult females (from 27 up to 37 days).
3- Evolution of R. similis population in sterilized Nitisol
5. Males survived significantly longer (½ life from 40 to 71 days).
at different water potential
6. After 180 days, in optimal conditions, 10 % of females and 30% of Males were still alive; but no
juveniles were alive at the 150th days 100
3 2
y = -0,0009x + 0,1222x - 4,8975x + 100
2

Conclusion R = 0,63
% recovered nematodes

3 2
75 y = -0,0009x + 0,1252x - 5,2607x + 100
2
R = 0,89
These results are consistent with the absence of anhydrobiosis strategy in the R. similis compared to 3
y = -0,0012x + 0,1537x - 6,5659x + 100
2

Pratylenchus coffeae. These results also suggest that R. similis survival depends not only of 50 2
R = 0,73

environmental conditions such as soil moisture and microbial activity, but also of their behaviour.
Indeed, the energy of the males is likely to be totally directed towards the reproduction (no need for food 25

foraging) ; at the opposite, females loose much more energy while foraging or while laying eggs, and are
0
thus disadvantaged in the absence of host plants. 0 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70
Time between deposit & extraction (days)
Water potential: 0 (saturation) -3 - 300 kPa

100 4- Evolution of Pratylenchus coffeae population in

y = 100e
-0,0187x
sterilized Nitisol at different water potential
% recovered nematodes

2
80 R = 0,76
-0,0233x
y = 100e
60 2
R = 0,71 100 100
-0,0232x
y = 100e
40 2
R = 0,76 -0,010x
y = 100e
-0,0345x
80 y = 100e 80 -0,0156x
y = 100e
% recovered nematodes
% recovered nematodes

2 -0,0604x 2
20 R = 0,61 y = 100e R = 0,90 2
2
R = 0,82 R = 0,46
-0,025x
0 60 y = 100e 60
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 2 -0,048x
R = 0,71 y = 100e -0,011x
Time between deposit & extraction (days) 2
y = 100e
40 R = 0,53 40 2
R = 0,19
Water potential: 0 -0.1 -5 -165 -700 kPa

20 20

0 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
5- Evolution of R. similis population in natural Nitisol Time between deposit & extraction (Days) Time between deposit & extraction (Days)
at different water potential Males juveniles females Males juveniles females

6- Evolution of males and females R. similis population in natural soils: Nitisol (left) and andosol (right)