Evaluation of Infestation Degree of Root-Knot Nematode on two Tobacco Varieties (Burley and Flue-Cured) and Surveying of Meloidogne Species in the Syrian Coast

This study was conducted in Tobacco fields in the Syrian coast to investigate Root-knot Nematode on two varieties of tobacco (Burley and Flue-cured). Two hundred and five samples of the roots of infected plants were collected from 32 fields in the period between early August and early October. The results showed that the degree of infestation was high (fifth degree) to Flue-cured tobacco (average was 179.20 knot for one sample), and fourth degree to the Burley tobacco (average 39.95 knot on one sample). There were three species of Meloidogyne: M.javanica, it had the most frequency 46.25 % and 43.7 % of Burley and Flue-cured tobacco respectively, followed by M.incognita 26.25 % and 24.44% of samples respectively. These species were present together in less frequency on both studied varieties. Whereas the third specie M.arenaria only appeared in three sites of Flue-cured tobacco in less frequency (5.18 %) and was associated with M.incognita.