Modifications in the potato rhizosphere during infestations of Globodera rostochiensis and subsequent effects on the growth of Rhizoctonia solani

Two controlled environment experiments were conducted to explore the hypothesis that invasion and damage caused to potato roots by the potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis might result in quantitative or qualitative changes in the release of root exudates to subsequently affect the growth of Rhizoctonia solani (AG3) in the potato rhizosphere. The growth of five R. solani isolates was compared on media amended either with root exudates from G. rostochiensis-infested or uninfested potato (cv. Desiree) plants at different time intervals after the introduction of the nematodes. In Experiment 1, the growth of R. solani was higher on medium amended with potato root exudates from G. rostochiensis-infested compared to uninfested plants, collected 4, 6, 8 and 12 days after the G. rostochiensis treatments were administered. Similarly, in Experiment 2, R. solani isolates grew faster on medium amended with potato root exudates from G. rostochiensis-infested than uninfested plants. This trend was particularly pronounced at the 12-day collection. At this time, 49% of the G. rostochiensis juveniles in roots were found to belong to the juvenile moults J2 and J3, indicating that root exudates were modified during the earlier stages of juvenile invasion. Carbohydrate analysis of root exudates indicated significantly higher levels of sucrose in root exudates from G. rostochiensis-infested than uninfested plants, whereas no significant differences were found in total nitrogen content. The results are discussed to help elucidate the mechanism behind the disease complex found between G. rostochiensis and R. solani in previous field research.