The Response of Some Australian Native Plants To Meloidogyne Ja Vanica

The resistance and tolerance to M. javanica of 20 native species of Leguminosae, 21 native species of Myrtaceae and 20 native species from several families were assessed. Most of the Leguminosae were susceptible as shown by galling and tolerant as shown by stimulated growth of infested plants. It is suggested that, in the leguminous species, tolerance evolved, not in response to selection pressure from M. javanica but because of the rapid growth of their roots. Most plants in the Myrtaceae were resistant and intolerant; resistance is possibly general or race non-specific while lack of tolerance may be due to their slow rate of growth and inability to regenerate quickly roots damaged by nematodes. Species in other families exhibited the whole range of combinations of tolerance and resistance.