Abstract:
The reproduction of an Iranian population of Ditylenchus destructor Thorne, 1945 was investigated in different media under laboratory condltlons to identi$• the best medium and fungal host for mass production of this nematode. Four media, including three handmade PDA media (Potato Dextrose Agar), prepared from extracts of three cultivars of potato (Santana, Ramos & Maradona) and one medium of OMA (Oat Meal Agar), were used as substrates to grow fungi isolated from potato fields, Including different anastomozis group of Rhizoctonia solani (AG3, AG4, AGS, AG6, AGD, AG9), Phytophthora capsici, Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum Esp. lycopersici_ These fungal cultures were then inoculated with the nematodes and maintained at 20 and 25 oc The results showed that the nematode fed and reproduced more on R solani (AG3, AG4 and AGD) and F. oxysporum fsp_ lycopersici than on other fitngi_ However, R. solani (AG3 and AG5) and P. capsici at 25 oc were also suitable for mass production of this nematode. The reproduction of the nematode was greater at 25 oc than at 20 oc
