Seed gall nematode Anguina tritici in Bulgaria: nematode impact on wheat growth and grain yield

Abstract

Seed gal nematode (Anguina tritici Stein.) has not been reported as a parasite of wheat and barley in Bulgaria for more than thirteen years. However, in 2012 it has been detected in two locations of southeastern Bulgaria. Regarding this, the aim of the present study was to focus on the nematode pathogenicity and its impact on wheat plants. In a laboratory experiments were tasted five varieties of wheat against A. tritici. None of them showed to be resistant to the nematode. Field experiment were carried out in infested farmer fields during the 2012/2013 growing season to evaluate the effect of seed gall nematode on grain yield. A. tritici severity corresponded both with a decrease in number of grain spike and with an increase of number of distorted and died spike. Nematode pathogenicity potential corresponded also with a decrease of grain weight spike and its affect on yield.