Screening of legume varieties for resistance to the root nematodes <i>Heterodera trifolii</i> and <i>Meloidogyne hapla</i>

Abstract

Establishment of 15 lines of legumes on two soils with differing nematode populations was studied under greenhouse conditions. Kokatau silt loam (yellow‐grey earth) contained only Heterodera trifolii , but Egmont brown loam (yellow‐brown loam) contained both H. trifolii and Meloidogyne hapla . Seven lines of white clover, two of red clover, two of subterranean clover, two of lotus, and two of lucerne were sown into unsterilised soil or soil sterilised with methyl bromide which served as control. Yields and nematode infestations were measured 20 and 33 days after sowing. The yields of all seven lines of white clover, representing four varieties, and the two lotus varieties were seriously reduced by both H. trifolii and M. hapla . Subterranean clover was tolerant to attack, but yield of red clovers was reduced by M. hapla . College glutinosa lucerne tolerated invasion by both nematodes, but ‘Wairau’ was susceptible to M. hapla attack.