Gargouri1*, E. Khemir1, A.A. Dababat2 and L. Burgess3
(1) National Institute of Agronomic Research of Tunisia, University of Carthage, Ariana, 2049, Tunisia; (2) International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Ankara, Türkiye; (3) Sydney Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia.
*Email address of the corresponding author: [email protected]
Soil-borne fungal pathogens and nematodes are major contributors to yield loss in field crops. This study assessed fungal pathogens and parasitic nematodes in 28 Tunisian wheat soil samples using the PreDicta® B test. Quantitative PCR identified eight pathogens among the 14 tested, including Fusarium culmorum, Gaeumannomyces tritici, Pythium spp., Bipolaris sorokiniana, Rhizoctonia solani AG8, cereal cyst nematodes (CCNs), root lesion nematodes (RLNs) Pratylenchus spp. and Ditylenchus dipsaci. The correlation found between the inoculum level of some pathogens quantified in the soil before sowing and the disease incidence in the next cropping season indicated that this test may be a useful tool to predict the yield loss caused by certain diseases. The findings highlighted the diversity and distribution of soilborne pathogens in Tunisian wheat fields, providing valuable insights for developing disease management strategies. Further research using the PreDicta® B test is needed to correlate pathogen DNA levels with disease severity and yield impact for accurate risk assessment.
Cereals, legumes, root disease, risk assessment.
https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001490