Review of the free-living nematodes that transmit Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) in potatoes

Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) causes a number of different symptoms in potato plants including necrotic arcing (known as spraing, corky ringspot) in the tuber flesh, and stem mottle (distortion, stunting and mottling) and aucuba in the foliage. The virus is transmitted by trichodorid nematodes, and has a wide host range, including many common agricultural weed species. These weeds serve to maintain the virus in a field and its nematode population, in a perpetual cycle of transmission and acquisition.

This desk study (published in 2006) summarised the information on the principal free-living nematodes in the UK, including their biology, distribution, economic importance and management. It focussed on the main vectors of TRV within the UK, namely: Trichodorus primitivus, Paratrichodorus pachydermus and to a lesser extent P. anemones. 

The review also briefly summarised the information available on Longidorus elongatus, L. macrosoma and Pratylenchus penetrans (although these are not vectors of TRV)