Preliminary Survey of the Genera and Species of Parasitic Nematodes Associated with Strawberry Hybrids in Al-Buqay’a and Akkar Areas in Homs and Tartous Governorates, Syria

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the pathogens which attack strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa) and to identify the species and genera of nematodes that infect strawberries in Syria and their importance during the period 2019-2022. This problem appeared recently in the strawberry-cultivated areas in the countryside of Homs and Tartous. Samples were collected from the diseased areas, and analyzed in the laboratory. It was found that there were many species of nematodes causing strawberry diseases. Identification of plant pathogenic nematodes showed the presence of 11 nematode genera, 6 of which were identified to the species level. The species recorded for the first time in Syria were the strawberry spring dwarf nematode Aphelenchoides fragariae and the strawberry stem and bulb nematode Ditylenchus fragariae. Nematodes of the genus Aphelenchus that attack fungi appeared as the second most common species in the examined samples. It was found that the species A. fragariae was the most numerous among the plant pathogenic nematodes. The relationship between the spread of strawberry diseases and agricultural operations and their relationship with nematodes was investigated, and strategies to develop integrated pest management of this crop were presented.

Keywords:

Nematodes, leaf nematode, diseases, strawberry, Syria.