Plant parasitic nematodes of fruit trees in southern Uzbekistan

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to study the species composition, distribution, and dominance of nematodes of fruit trees in southern Uzbekistan (Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya Regions).

Materials and methods. The material was collected by the route method in autumn (September-October), spring (April-May), and summer (June-August) months in 2021 to 2024. The study objects were 8 species of parasitic nematodes of fruit trees in the southern part of Uzbekistan (Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya Regions). A modified Baerman funnel method was used to isolate nematodes from plants and root soil. A total of more than 800 plant and soil samples were collected and analyzed. To identify parasitic nematode species, we used a Nematode Atlas compiled at the Institute of Parasitology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as morphometric parameters obtained using the common de Mann formula.

Results and discussion. The phytohelminthological studies conducted on fruit crops (apple, common apricot, peach, cherry, plum, pear, walnut, and pecan) in the Uzbekistan southern regions (Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya Regions) identified 32 species of nematodes that belonged to 2 orders, 4 suborders, 5 superfamilies, 8 families, 10 subfamilies, and 13 genera. In the taxonomic composition of the nematode fauna of fruit trees in southern Uzbekistan, Tуlenchorhynchidae nematodes (10 species) dominated; these species accounted for 30.3% of all species found. Representatives of the Longidoridae, Meloidogyninae and Anguinidae families were observed in small numbers. The species Longidorus elongatus, Xiphinema elongatum, Tylenchorhynchus brassicae, T. claytoni, Bitylenchus dubius, Merlinius brevidens, Rotylenchus robustus, Helicotylenchus dihystera, H. erythrinae, Pratylenchus pratensis, Mеloidogyne incognita and Ditylenchus dipsaci were found in large numbers in southern Uzbekistan, which caused serious damage to the fruit tree productivity.