MOTILITY AND MIGRATION OF NEMATODES IN SALINE ENVIRONMENTS

ABSTRACT Plant parasitic nematodes cause severe agricultural damage in Northeast Brazil. Additionally, soil salinization, especially the semiarid region of Northeast, is another factor that limits crop yield. The study evaluated motility Meloidogyne enterolobii and Pratylenchus coffeae, vertical migration P. coffeae under saline conditions. Motility was assessed by submitting juveniles second stage M. adults to solutions NaCl, CaCl2, MgCl2 at concentrations 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00 M, a mixed solution (combination three salts 7:2:1 ratio) 2, 4, 6, 8 days exposure. studied segmented columns 10 cm length 4.40 internal diameter, filled with (mixture MgCl2) non-saline, whose evaluations were carried out 6 after infestation. number active both reduced increasing concentration. From 0.50 activity not observed any exposure periods NaCl CaCl2. increase exponentially decreasing its from 0.75 negatively affected salinity, presenting more uniform distribution non-saline soil.