In 2012, the first domestic commercial edamame processing plant was established in Arkansas and edamame production was contracted out to local growers. Although the state is a major soybean producer, studies of nematode effects on edamame are limited. A survey of nematode genera and density in 64 contracted edamame production fields was conducted in 2013 and 2014. In both years, Meloidogyne and Heterodera were present in less than half of the surveyed fields while Pratylenchus was the most prevalent in 2013 and Helicotylenchus in 2014. A microplot study was conducted in 2014 in two locations to evaluate the effects of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita, race 3) and soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines, HG type 2.5.7) on plant growth, yield and food quality components of edamame. Yield was the most consistent factor influenced by nematode pressure with increasing nematode population densities resulting in suppressed pod and seed weight. Additionally, seed protein content was reduced in the highest tested population density of H. glycines. In greenhouse studies, 22 advanced edamame breeding lines from the University of Arkansas soybean breeding program were compared with two susceptible commercial cultivars for suitability as hosts for both M. incognita and H. glycines independently. Four lines showed consistent reductions in M. incognita reproduction relative to the commercial cultivars and could represent sources of moderate resistance for development of future root-knot nematode resistant edamame cultivars.
In 2012, the first domestic commercial edamame processing plant was established in Arkansas and edamame production was contracted out to local growers. Although the state is a major soybean producer, studies of nematode effects on edamame are limited. A survey of nematode genera and density in 64 contracted edamame production fields was conducted in 2013 and 2014. In both years, Meloidogyne and Heterodera were present in less than half of the surveyed fields while Pratylenchus was the most prevalent in 2013 and Helicotylenchus in 2014. A microplot study was conducted in 2014 in two locations to evaluate the effects of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita, race 3) and soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines, HG type 2.5.7) on plant growth, yield and food quality components of edamame. Yield was the most consistent factor influenced by nematode pressure with increasing nematode population densities resulting in suppressed pod and seed weight. Additionally, seed protein content was reduced in the highest tested population density of H. glycines. In greenhouse studies, 22 advanced edamame breeding lines from the University of Arkansas soybean breeding program were compared with two susceptible commercial cultivars for suitability as hosts for both M. incognita and H. glycines independently. Four lines showed consistent reductions in M. incognita reproduction relative to the commercial cultivars and could represent sources of moderate resistance for development of future root-knot nematode resistant edamame cultivars.