Pollen Viability and Fruit Yield of Coriander Genotypes Inoculated with Different Inoculation Densities of Meloidogyne incognita Race 1

Abstract

Coriander is among the most consumed leafy vegetables in Brazil, employing a large number of people in its production chain. Among the limiting factors to the production of this Horticultural crop, there is nematode of the genus Meloidogyne causing root galls. The present work was carried out aiming at understanding the impact on coriander plants infected by the parasitism of M. incognita race 1. The number of galls were verified at 30 days after nematode inoculation as well as the plant survival up to the harvest stage. In addition, pollen viability and fruit yield in coriander plants of two cultivars (Verdão and HTV Dom Luiz), inoculated at sowing with six inoculum densities (0, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, 8,000 and 16,000 eggs/plant) and evaluated at a randomized complete block design with four replications were also analyzed. The plot was composed of one plant. The presence of the pathogen did not influence the pollen viability by means of the acetic Carmine and Alexander dyes. However, neither tetrazolium nor in vitro pollen germination means were efficient in the viability identification. Densities of 8,000 and 16,000 eggs/plant did not allow the development of plants, leading them to death. Inoculation at sowing, and evaluation of the number of galls at 30 days did not limit the reestablishment of the plant development and fruit yield, up to the density of 4,000 eggs/plant.