Occurrence and Geographic Distribution of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Associated with Citrus in Morocco and Their Interaction with Soil Patterns
Btissam Zoubi,
Fouad Mokrini,
Abdelfattah A. Dababat,
Mohammed Amer,
Cherki Ghoulam,
Rachid Lahlali,
Salah-Eddine Laasli,
Khalid Khfif,
Mustafa Imren,
Oumaima Akachoud,
Abderrazak Benkebboura,
Abdelilah Iraqi Housseini,
Ahmed Qaddoury
Affiliations
Btissam Zoubi
Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agri-Food, and Health, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez 30050, Morocco
Fouad Mokrini
Biotechnology Unit, National Institute for Agricultural Research, INRA-Rabat, Rabat 10080, Morocco
Abdelfattah A. Dababat
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Ankara 06810, Turkey
Mohammed Amer
Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan
Cherki Ghoulam
Center of Agrobiotechnology and Bioengineering, Research Unit Labeled CNRST, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
Rachid Lahlali
Phytopathology Unit, Department of Plant Protection, Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès, Meknes 50001, Morocco
Salah-Eddine Laasli
Laboratory of Botany, Mycology, and Environment, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V University, Rabat 10080, Morocco
Khalid Khfif
Research Unit on Nuclear Techniques, Environment, and Quality, National Institute for Agricultural Research, INRA-Tangier, Tangier 90010, Morocco
Mustafa Imren
Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu 14030, Turkey
Oumaima Akachoud
Center of Agrobiotechnology and Bioengineering, Research Unit Labeled CNRST, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
Abderrazak Benkebboura
Center of Agrobiotechnology and Bioengineering, Research Unit Labeled CNRST, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
Abdelilah Iraqi Housseini
Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agri-Food, and Health, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez 30050, Morocco
Ahmed Qaddoury
Center of Agrobiotechnology and Bioengineering, Research Unit Labeled CNRST, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are found in citrus plantations throughout the world, but they are considered to be the most problematic pest in Morocco. Citrus fruit quality and yield have been adversely affected by PPNs. Due to data unavailability of nematodes associated with citrus, a detailed survey was conducted in the main citrus-growing regions of Morocco during 2020–2021 to assess the occurrence, distribution, and diversity of PPNs associated with rhizospheres of citrus trees. In addition, some soil properties have also been assessed for their impact on soil properties. Plant-parasitic nematode diversity was calculated using two ecological indexes, the Shannon diversity index (H′) and the Evenness index (E). The collected soil and root samples were analyzed, and eleven genera and ten species of plant-parasitic nematodes were identified. The results show that the most predominant PPN species were Tylenchulus semipenetrans (88%), Helicotylenchus spp. (75%), Pratylenchus spp. (47%), Tylenchus spp. (51%), and Xiphinema spp. (31%). The results showed that PPN distributions were correlated with soil physicochemical properties such as soil texture, pH levels, and mineral content. Based on the obtained result, it was concluded that besides the direct effects of the host plant, physicochemical factors of the soil could greatly affect PPN communities in citrus growing orchards.
