Screening of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) for resistance against temperate root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.)

Biological contamination of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and its impact on food safety

The occurrence of biological contaminants in common beans is a challenge for food safety, as they can affect the bean at different points in the production chain. Their presence can result in damage to the health of consumers through their direct toxic effect or by promoting nutritional deficiencies, in addition to decreasing the crop yield that has an economic impact. In this article, the information available in the literature on the occurrence of biological contaminants in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was organized to identify the main risks to food safety due to biological contamination. Research showed that many studies investigated the effects of microbial contaminants during the farming and harvested of beans and that some strategies have been used to avoid losses. The presence of toxigenic fungi and some mycotoxins have also been reported, indicating that common beans may carry thermostable toxic residues, directly impacting human health. Further studies are needed to identify the role of microorganisms in determining the quality of common beans and to estimate their risks to food safety. HighlightsBeans can be contaminated by biological agents.Plants infected with parasites may be highly susceptible to other contaminants.Micotoxicologic contamination is less prevalent in beans than other grains.There are strategies to decrease the risk of bacterial contamination in beans.

A routine test for the relative susceptibility of potato genotypes with resistance to Meloidogyne chitwoodi

The population dynamics of Meloidogyne chitwoodi on eight potato genotypes was compared to the susceptible cv. Desiree in four glasshouse experiments. The initial nematode densities consisted of log series 2x, with . Seinhorst’s logistic model was fitted to the final population densities to estimate the parameters maximum multiplication rate (a), maximum population density (M) and the ratios RSa, RSM and . Average RSa and RSM of the seven resistant genotypes were smaller than 0.29%. The ratios on six resistant genotypes and cv. Desiree were the same, 1.3, indicating independence of RS. One genotype stood out with , whereby RSa < RSM. Both RS and were unaffected by pot size or experimental conditions. Screening protocols at second-stage juveniles (g dry soil)−1 in 2 or 3 kg pots were evaluated for distinctiveness between the two genotype groups. Based on the results, an optimal protocol for a routine resistance test is proposed.

Relative susceptibilities of five fodder radish varieties (Raphanus sativus var. Oleiformis) to Meloidogyne chitwoodi

The fodder radish varieties Anaconda, Contra, Defender, Doublet and Terranova, known to have some partial resistance, were compared to the standard variety, Radical, to estimate their relative susceptibility (RS) for both population dynamic parameters of Meloidogyne chitwoodi and to evaluate dependency. This approach must eventually lead to new screening methods for partial resistance tests. Plants were grown under controlled glasshouse conditions. Twelve densities of nematodes in five replications were used. Five plants per 7 l pot were allowed to grow for a period of 11 weeks until their early flowering stage. Few seedlings of all the varieties at and 64 J2 (g dry soil)−1, and all seedlings exposed to the highest density, J2 (g dry soil)−1, died within a week after germination. Replanted seedlings developed into normal plants. Total yield, expressed as total fresh weight, was not affected by M. chitwoodi. A lower percentage of plants with galls was observed on partially resistant varieties as compared with Radical. For Radical, a maximum multiplication rate (a) of 0.38 and a maximum population density (M) of 6.43 J2 (g dry soil)−1 were estimated. Radical proved to be a bad host for M. chitwoodi with all final populations lower than the . The parameter estimates of (M) for Anaconda, Contra, Defender, Doublet and Terranova were 0.011, 0.006, 0.027, 0.020 and 0.009 J2 (g dry soil)−1, respectively. With Radical taken to be 100% susceptible, this resulted in values of 0.17, 0.10, 0.42, 0.32 and 0.14% of these varieties, respectively, reducing high population levels of M. chitwoodi by more than 98%. There was no correlation between the and the values, indicating that scoring the number of galled plants will not provide a suitable measure for partial resistance.