Diversity of plant parasitic nematodes associated with raspberry cultivation in the Souss-Massa region

Several surveys were conducted in Souss-Massa region in order to assess the diversity and incidence of the main nematodes associated with raspberry grown in greenhouses. Soil samples were collected from raspberry greenhouses located in the provinces of Biogra, Khmis Ait Amira and Belfaa. Twelve nematode genera were identified on raspberry. In terms of abundance and frequency, three plant-parasitic nematodes (Meloidogyne spp., Pratylenchus spp., and Helicotylenchus spp.) were dominant in all the surveyed provinces. The following species were identified from randomly selected specimens: Pratylenchus penetrans, P. thornei, Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica, and Ditylenchus dipsaci. The average density of Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus does not exceed 4 nematodes per 100 cm³ of soil in the three surveyed provinces. Ectoparasitic nematodes, Xiphinema spp., Longidorus spp. and Trichodorus spp. were very poorly represented, with average densities not exceeding 2 nematodes per 100 cm³ of soil. These results provide basic information to develop control strategy against the main plant-parasitic nematodes on raspberry.

Keywords: Nematode, Raspberry, Souss-Massa, Morocco