Brianna Rhoads, Utah State University
Biology
Nematodes are microscopic roundworms and are known to be some of the most difficult agricultural pests to control. Most of the 700 different plant parasitic nematodes species infect the root system of their host plant, causing galling, stunting and allow secondary pathogens to infect the host. For diagnostic purposes, in order to identify species of root-knot nematodes, the use of species specific primers can speed up the identification; many farmers need fast and reliable identification to determine which crops can still be planted in root-knot nematode infested fields. The purpose of my project was to test species-specific primers developed in Europe and Asia for Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne arenaria on North American populations of both species using PCR. The results showed that primers developed in Asia and Europe for M. incognita amplified North American populations but primers developed in Europe for M. arenaria did not amplify North American M. arenaria populations. Based on results, M. incognita specific primers are useful for diagnostic purposes in the United States.