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Research on Crops

Host-status of ARC biofortified sweet potato lines and cultivars to Meloidogyne incognita


DOI: 10.31830/2348-7542.2026.ROC-1259    | Article Id: ROC-1259 | Page : 105-110
Citation :- Host-status of ARC biofortified sweet potato lines and cultivars to Meloidogyne incognita. Res. Crop. 27: 105-110
P. L. MORIFI, K. M. POFU, S. M. LAURIE AND P. W. MASHELA phatu.mashela@ul.ac.za
Address : University of Limpopo, Department of Plant Production, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Green Biotechnologies Research Centre of Excellence, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, Republic of South Africa
Submitted Date : 3-11-2025
Accepted Date : 8-02-2026
Online Published:

Abstract

The successful production of biofortified sweet potato cultivars is being limited by the wide distribution of the southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita), which is historically one of the most aggressive thermophilic Meloidogyne species. Thus, it is increasingly important to include nematode resistant germplasm in breeding biofortified sweet potato cultivars. The objective of this study was to determine the host status of 18 biofortified sweet potato lines and cultivars to M. incognita, with cv. 'Beauregard' serving as a susceptible standard at the University of Limpopo, South Africa. The experiment was conducted in spring 2023 and validated in 2024. Each line, in 20 cm-diameter pots, was irrigated with 250 ml water every other day and inoculated with 250 eggs + second-stage juveniles. Fifty-six days after inoculation, the reproductive potential (RP = total eggs + juveniles/g fresh roots) less than unity suggested that four sweet potato lines 'ARC-SP-8', FS5-2, FS1-1 and 'Khumo' were non-host to M. incognita in Experiment 1, whereas in Experiment 2, lines 2013-26-5, FS5-2-, 2015-2-1 and 'Khumo' were non-host. In conclusion, non-host germplasm to the test nematode exists in some biofortified sweet potato lines, which should further be assessed for resistance against the nematode.

Keywords

Biofortification host-status Meloidogyne species reproduction potential sweet potato

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