| Abstract: | The effect of the rhg1 gene on equilibrium population densities (E) and reproduction factors (Rf) of Heterodera glycines was studied by comparing the nematode population development on two near-isogenic soybean lines (NIL), differing at the rhg1 locus. The NIL were inoculated with a series of initial egg densities (Pi) in the greenhouse. The relationships between final population densities (Pf = females per plant or eggs per plant) or Rf (final egg density/Pi) on both NIL and Pi were adequately described by quadratic models. The rhg1 gene suppressed Pf and Rf at all Pi of a population of H. glycines race 3 (HG Type 0-); E and maximum Rf were higher on the NIL-S line than on the NIL-R line. After two generations of culture of the race 3 population on the NIL-R line, the population selected by the rhg1 gene (R-eggs) had higher Pf and Rf on the NIL-R line than the population cultured on the NIL-S line (S-eggs) at all Pi. Both R-eggs and S-eggs produced similar egg numbers on the NIL-S line, which was higher than the egg number of either population on the NIL-R line at all Pi. The ratio of E in female numbers on the NIL-R line to E on the NIL-S line increased from 29% for the original race 3 population (S-eggs) to 46% for the rhg1-selected population (R-eggs). Regardless of different egg sources, a trend of increase in the number of eggs per female with the rise of Pi was observed on the NIL-S line. In contrast, female fecundity of both populations declined with the increase of Pi on the NIL-R line. At most inoculum densities, the highest number of eggs per female was observed on the NIL-S line inoculated with the R-eggs, whereas the lowest number of eggs per female was detected on the NIL-R line inoculated with the S-eggs. This study demonstrated that the E and maximum Rf determined by the quadratic models are useful measurements of plant resistance to nematodes. |
