| Abstract: | Several endoparasitic nematodes have been reported on leguminous plants in the Mediterranean area. The most widespread are the root-lesion nematodes Pratylenchus mediterraneus, P. penetrans and P. thornei. Symptoms induced by these nematodes usually are not very impressive, but 50% yield loss of chickpea may occur. Among root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne artiellia is associated with severe yield losses of chickpea in Italy, Spain and especially Syria. Tolerance limits of 0.14 and 0.02 of this nematode per ml soil are reported for winter and spring-sown chickpea, respectively. Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica can be noxious to French bean and cowpea in sandy soil. The cyst nematode Heterodera goettingiana reduces yields of pea, broad bean and vetch when its population densities exceed 0.5, 1, and 2.1 eggs per g of soil, respectively. Heterodera ciceri occurs in northern Syria and Turkey and is responsible for economic yield losses of chickpea and lentil in fields infested with more than 1 or 2.5 eggs per g of soil, respectively. Pea and grass pea also suffer from infestation of this nematode. The stem and bulb nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci causes severe decline of broad bean, pea and probably lentil during wet seasons. Other nematodes, although present in moderate numbers, appear to have little importance. |
