Bursaphelenchus cocophilus

The red ring disease of coconuts and African oil palms is caused by the nematode Bursaphelenchus cocophilus. It is also identified in literature with an alternative scientific name Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus. The common name, the red ring nematode, is derived from its distinguishing symptom.

Red ring nematode
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Nematoda
Class:
Secernentea
Subclass:
Tylenchia
Order:
Aphelenchida
Superfamily:
Aphelenchoidoidea
Family:
Parasitaphelenchidae
Subfamily:
Bursaphelenchinae
Genus:
Bursaphelenchus
Species:
B. cocophilus
Binomial name
Bursaphelenchus cocophilus
Synonyms

Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus[1]

Significance

This nematode can cause losses up to 80% in Elaeis guineensis (oilpalm) plantations, however, the losses typically range from 10 to 15% on coconut palms and oil palms.[2] The most economically severe losses are in coconut, oilpalm, and dates.[MP 1][MP 2][MP 3] It and B. xylophilus are the only two economically significant diseases in Bursaphelenchus.[MP 4] B. cocophilus is among the most commonly prohibited and/or inspected-for nematode plant diseases in the world.[MP 5]

Distribution

This nematode is distributed in Central and South America, and some of the islands in the Caribbean.[3]

Hosts

Over 17 of the Palmae, probably over half of them.[MP 2]

Identification

The distinguishing characteristics of this nematode are a well-developed metacorpus from J2 through adult, a short stylet 11-15 μm in adults, adults typically 1mm in length. Females have the vulva located two-thirds body length and have a vulval flap. Females have a long post uterine sac and a rounded tail. Males have seven papillae in the tail region, distinct spicules, and bursa shaped as a spade.[4]

Life cycle

The red ring nematode follows a typical plant parasitic life cycle, having 4 molts before becoming an adult. The whole life cycle lasts approximately ten days. The survival/transmissible stage is the dauer.[MP 6] The survival stage is the J3.[5] The dissemination of this nematode depends on its relationship with its vector.[MP 6][MP 7]

Insect vector relationship

The vector, Rhynchophorus palmarum (the South American palm weevil),[MP 7] carries the dauer[MP 6]/J3 stage to healthy palms. Female weevils are internally infested around the oviducts, when they lay their eggs in the palm they also disseminate the nematode.[6]

Host-parasite relationship

The symptoms produced by this nematode are chlorosis beginning in the oldest leaves and a distinct red/brownish ring in the trunk of the tree.[7]

Management

To manage this disease scouting is the most important aspect; early detection of infected trees may save plantations. If an infected tree is found it must be removed, treated with herbicide and cut down. Leaving the stump behind can lead to vector reproduction and spread the nematode. Trapping the vector is another strategy, reducing the disease incidence from 10% to 1%.[8]

Footnotes
  1. Quist, Casper W.; Smant, Geert; Helder, Johannes (2015-08-04). "Evolution of Plant Parasitism in the Phylum Nematoda". Annual Review of Phytopathology. Annual Reviews. 53 (1): 289–310. doi:10.1146/annurev-phyto-080614-120057. ISSN 0066-4286.
  2. Esser and Meredith 1987
  3. CAB 1999
  4. Goodey 1960
  5. Blair and Darling 1968
  6. Chinchilla 1991
  7. "Bursaphelenchus cocophilus Cobb". University of Florida Entomology Department. 2002-01-02. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  8. Oehlschlager 2002
  1. p. 315, "Bursaphelenchus cocophilus (red ring nematode) is vectored by Rhynchophorus palmarum weevils and causes red ring disease in several palm species in the Caribbean and Latin America."
  2. p. 322, "Hosts of B. cocophilus are confined to the family Palmae, where the nematode is known to infect more than 17 species. Most palm species appear to be susceptible to inoculation by the nematode, but resulting disease severity and symptoms (red ring) are variable."
  3. p. 322, "The most economically important species attacked by B. cocophilus are coconut palm, the African oil palm, and the date palm."
  4. p. 321, "Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and B. cocophilus are the only species of economic importance within the genus (45)."
  5. p. 324, "As a consequence, several of these nematodes are regulated. Lehman (53) arranged a list of plant-parasitic nematodes most frequently regulated in international trade. Out of the 15 regulated species on his list, 8 species are migratory endoparasitic nematodes: ... B. cocophilus.
  6. p. 315, "[Red Ring nematodes] have specialized survival stages, termed dauers, which are usually ectophoretic and use the insect for transport."
  7. p 322, "INTERACTION WITH OTHER PATHOGENS Migratory endoparasitic nematodes live concomitantly and interact with other microorganisms, of which several are pathogens to the same host. ... A particular interaction is observed with a number of aphelenchid species, such as ... B. cocophilus, which need[s] an insect vector for [its] dissemination, the vector itself being a parasite of the common host."

References
  • Blair, G. and Darling, D. (1968). Red ring disease on the coconut palm, inoculation studies and histopathology. Nematologica 14: 395-403.
  • CABI/EPPO (1999). Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus. Distribution Maps of Plant Diseases No. 786. CAB INTERNATIONAL. Wallingford, UK.
  • Chinchilla CM. (1991). The red ring little leaf syndrome in oil palm and coconut palm. ASD Oil Palm Papers No. 1, 1-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20090130062423/http://www.asd-cr.com/ASD-Pub/Bol01/b01c1.htm (21 June 2009).
  • Esser, R. P. and J.A. Meredith (1987). Red ring nematode. Fla. Dept. Agric.& Consumer Serv., Div. Plant Ind., Nema. Circ. No. 141.
  • Goodey, J Basil (1960). Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus (Cobb, 1919) N. Comb., The nematode associated with "red-ring" disease of coconut. Nematologica 5:98-102.
  • Oehlschlager, A. C., Chinchilla, Carlos, Castillo, Geovani, and Gonzalez, Lilliana (2002). Control of Red Ring Disease by Mass Trapping of Rhynchophorus palmarum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The Florida Entomologist 85(3): 507-513.
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