Reproduction of Meloidogyne enterolobii in rootstocks and cucumber hybridsThis study aimed to determine the resistance of six rootstocks for cucumber (squash 'Menina Brasileira', pumpkin 'Exposição', 'Shelper', 'Tetsukabuto Takaiama', 'B8-A Tetsukabuto' and 'Excite Ikki') and four Japanese cucumber hybrids ('Yoshinari', 'Kouki', 'Taisho' and 'Tsuyataro') to Meloidogyne enterolobii. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse; each plot consisted of one plant per pot containing 2 liters of autoclaved soil. The experimental design was completely randomized, with five replicates per treatment. Two days after transplanting the seedlings, each plant was inoculated with 5,000 eggs and second-stage juveniles (initial population = Pi) of M. enterolobii. Tomato 'Rutgers' was used as indicative of inoculum viability. Sixty days after inoculated, each plant was evaluated for total number of nematodes in the roots (final population = Pf) and reproduction factor (FR=Pf/Pi). All rootstocks and cucumber hybrids allowed M. enterolobii multiplication, but FR values were lower in 'Shelper', 'Excite Ikki KY' and 'Menina Brasileira' rootstocks. In a second experiment, the low FR in these three rootstocks was confirmed, but with higher values in 'Menina Brasileira'. So, these rootstocks can be recommended to M. enterolobii infested areas, but with low populations, because they don't permit great multiplication of the patogen. It is concluded that 'Shelper' and 'Excite Ikki KY' rootstocks had the lowest FR and can be classified as moderate resistant to this nematode.
Cucumis sativus; Cucurbita moschata; Cucurbita maxima; root-knot nematode; grafting
