Differential chemotactic responses of two plant-parasitic nematodes, Meloidogyne incognita and Rotylenchulus reniformis, to some inorganic ions

The orientation of juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita and Rotylenchulus reniformis was studied in salt gradients created in a linear agarose gel. Twelve combinations of calcium, potassium, sodium or ammonium cations and chloride, nitrate or sulphate anions were tested. The orientation of juveniles of M. incognita was induced by the constitutive cation of the salt, e.g., calcium salts had no effect while the other salts and especially ammonium salts and ammonium nitrate were strongly repellent. In contrast, the orientation of juveniles of R. reniformis was induced by the constitutive anion of the salt, e.g., chloride salts were found to be repellent while sulphate and nitrate salts were attractive. These results are discussed as possible novel control strategies for economically important plant parasitic nematodes. In other respects, these differences in chemical preferences may partly explain the observed geographical distribution of these nematode species according to the ionic content of the soils.