The effect of different rooting media in in vitro screening trials for resistance to Meloidogyne incognita

The effects of three different rooting media (agar, compost and liquid) were investigated in in vitro screening trials for resistance of olive to the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Two cultivars (Ascolana and Moraiolo) were tested and both proved susceptible to the root-knot nematode regardless of the substrate used. However, M. incognita attack and reproduction were more severe in the liquid substrate. Therefore, the use of this substrate in screening trials seems to be more reliable than the others.