Investigation of resistance to root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne javanica) on commonly used local tomato genotypes in Tokat province

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs), particularly Meloidogyne spp., root-knot nematodes (RKNs), are widely distributed and cause significant yield losses in a wide range of crops. Major RKN species are Meloidogyne arenaria Chitwood (1949), Meloidogyne exigua Goeldi, 1892, Meloidogyne graminicola Golden and Birchfield, 1965, Meloidogyne hapla Chitwood, 1949, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White, 1919), Meloidogyne javanica (Treub) Chitwood, 1949 and Meloidogyne mayaguensis (Kofoid and White, 1919). PPNs, host association and distribution in different localities of Turkey have been surveyed. A total number of 240 species of PPNs belonging to 56 genera of Tylenchida (Nematoda) detected in Turkey. These PPN species found associated with 66 plants from 48 different localities of the country. In Turkey, M. incognita, M. arenaria, M. javanica and M. hapla are the most commonly found species, with M. incognita and M. javanica causing serious problems to a number of economically important agricultural and greenhouse crops. Nematicides do not provide long-term suppression of RKNs, and environmental and human health concerns are resulting in increased restrictions on their use. Identification of RKNs obtained from the samples collected from Tokat (Turkey) province were made using morphological and morphometric features using classical methods. For the production and renewal of the cultures of the RKN species [M. incognita (M.i) and M. javanica (M.j)] a susceptible tomato variety [SC-2121 variety tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)] was produced in greenhouse pots. In this study, the tomato varieties that were applied were determined to be susceptible and resistant (based on the number of egg mass and index value). Results indicated that Tomato-79 and Tomato-90 varieties were resistant to all root knot-nematodes (M.i and M.j) used in the experiments (9.2 ± 2.74; 8.2 ± 1.58, 2.8 ± 1.24 and 9.4 ± 2.46). All other genotypes were in sensitive groups with 3, 4 and 5 scale values as the mean number of egg messes were above 11