Studies on potato cyst nematodes in Algeria
In Algeria, the presence of potato cyst nematodes was first noticed in 1953 in a few fields in the Algiers region. It is thought that these nematodes had been introduced in the 1940s, soon after World War II, with seed potatoes imported from England (GB). Studies conducted in the late 2010s confirmed the presence of both Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis (EPPO A2 List). Recent morphological and molecular studies were conducted to determine the identity of potato cyst nematodes in the main potato-growing regions of Algeria. Soil samples were collected from 2014 to 2018 in potato fields from 17 regions. 44% of the studied samples contained G. pallida alone, 28% G. rostochiensis alone and 28% mixtures of the two species.
In terms of distribution, results were as follows:
- Globodera pallida (alone) was found in some samples from the regions of Ain Defla, Algiers, Blida, Bouira, Boumerdès, Djelfa, Mostaganem, Relizane, Tipaza.
- Globodera rostochiensis (alone) was found in some samples from the regions of Chlef, El Oued, Mascara, Mostaganem, Sétif, and Tlemcen.
- Mixed infections were found in some samples from the regions of Ain Defla, Guelma, Mascara, Mila, Mostaganem, and Tébessa.
Most nematode isolates found in the central part of the studied area belonged to G. pallida, while G. rostochiensis isolates were more frequent in the southern part. In the eastern part, the two Globodera species were often found in mixed populations. Most of the samples identified in the western part corresponded to G. rostochiensis alone or mixed populations. The authors considered that these results show that Globodera species are widely distributed in the main potato-growing regions of Algeria.
The situation of both Globodera pallida and Globodera rostochiensis in Algeria can be described as follows: Present, widespread in the main potato-production areas.
Sources
Djebroune A, Chakali G, de Andrade E, Camacho MJ, Rusinque L, Inácio ML (2021) Integrative morphometric and molecular approach to update the impact and distribution of potato cyst nematodes Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida (Tylenchida: Heteroderidae) in Algeria. Pathogens 10, 216. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10020216