Interference of Meloidogyne javanica in the reproduction of Pratylenchus brachyurus in soybean cultivar BRS/MT pintado

ABSTRACT Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., and the root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus brachyurus, are the most common phytoparasites in soybean crop, which usually occur in association in crop areas. However, few studies were conducted on the interaction between these parasites. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the interference of the increase in M. javanica population in the reproduction of P. brachyurus, and the effect of mixed populations on soybean (cultivar BRS/MT Pintado) development. The experiment consisted in inoculating a population of 1000 specimens of P. brachyurus per plant and changing the inoculum level of M. javanica, using zero, 1000, 2000 and 4000 eggs, in two different periods. After 65 days of inoculation, the increase in the initial population of M. javanica reduced by 79 and 73% the final population of P. brachyurus in the different experiments. However, both species significantly increased their populations. When subjected to the same inoculum level, M. javanica was more efficient in reproducing than P. brachyurus. The increase in the number of nematodes reduced the vegetative growth of the plant.