Meloidogyne incognita and M. arenaria Reproduction on Dwarf Hollies and Lantana.

Meloidogyne incognita and M. arenaria reproduction and host plant tolerance were assessed in field and greenhouse experiments on seven holly cultivars including Ilex glabra 'Shamrock', I. vomitoria 'Schelling's Dwarf', I. cornuta 'Carissa', red holly hybrid (Ilex Little Red), and I. crenata 'Compacta', 'Green Luster', and 'Helleri' as well as Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphylla) and two lantana cultivars (Lantana camara 'Miss Huff' and 'New Gold'). Boxwood had the highest M. arenaria and M. incognita gall rating of any of the plants evaluated. Gall ratings from M. arenaria and M. incognita on I. crenata 'Green Luster' and 'Helleri' were not different from boxwood. Ilex crenata 'Compacta' had less root galling than boxwood, but the roots averaged up to 20% galling by M. incognita and 30% galling by M. arenaria. Ilex glabra 'Shamrock', I. vomitoria 'Schelling's Dwarf', I. cornuta 'Carissa', Ilex Little Red, and the two lantana cultivars had little or no root galling after 2 years of growth. Neither M. incognita nor M. arenaria affected the growth of any of the plants evaluated in the field or greenhouse. Reproduction of M. incognita was much lower than that of M. arenaria on the holly cultivars. Nematode reproduction in the greenhouse was greatest on the three I. crenata cultivars, followed by Ilex Little Red and B. microphylla. Ilex glabra 'Shamrock', I. vomitoria 'Schelling's Dwarf', I. cornuta 'Carissa', and L. camara 'Miss Huff' and 'New Gold' could be useful as Meloidogyne-resistant landscape plants.