Plant parasitic and free-living nematodes of some orchards (peach, apple) in the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

Species diversity of nematode communities of the orchards from two administrative districts (Criuleni, Soroca) of the Republic of Moldova has been studied during last years. Seventy five species of plant parasitic and free-living nematodes were revealed in soil and roots of peach and apple trees. In all studied orchards of fruit trees the non-pathogenic and pathogenic plant parasitic species were predominant (37-58%) followed by bacterivores (15-30%), omnivores-predators (11-27%) and fungivores (815%). Among plant parasitic species, the endoparasites Pratylenchus pratensis, P. penetrans, P. thornei, Ditylenchus dipsaci and ectoparasites Rotylenchus robustus, Helicotylenchus dihystera, H. multicinctus, Paratylenchus hamatus, Criconemoides xenoplax were identified. The maturity Index values varied between 2.2 and 3.02 due to the predominance of plant parasites (cp 3-5) including the vectors of nepoviruses Longidorus elongates, L. euonymus, L. macrosoma, Xiphinema brevicolle, X. dentatum, X. rivesi, X. vuittenezi and tabro-virus Trichodorus primitivus. Most bacterivores were represented by species from the fam. Cephalobidae, Panagrolaimidae and fungivores - fam. Aphelenchidae, Aphelenchoididae.