Resistance to the Peanut Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne arenaria) in Arachis hypogaea1

Abstract The peanut root-knot nematode [Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood race 1] causes significant economic losses throughout the peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production area of the southern United States. Chemicals for control of this pest are becoming increasingly limited, and there are no known sources of resistance within the U. S. A. hypogaea collection. The objectives of this research were to screen 1,321 plant introductions for resistance or hypersusceptibility based on egg-mass ratings in greenhouse tests and to conduct more intensive greenhouse studies of selected genotypes to evaluate this method for identifying resistance to the peanut root-knot nematode. Twenty-seven genotypes with low and eight genotypes with high egg-mass ratings were selected and reevaluated in a more intensive greenhouse experiment. Seventeen of the low selections supported fewer (P≤0.05) egg masses, and seven supported less egg production per gram of fresh root weight than Florunner. Three selections for high egg-mas...