The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica can infect beetroots, causing extensive damage to this food crop. As chemical and genetic control tactics have shown limited efficacy, new strategies are needed to improve the integrated management of this parasite. This study assessed the influence of potential defence elicitors and M. javanica infection on the mineral composition of beetroot. Plants were treated with acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), citrus biomass, or a mannanoligosaccharide-based product (MOS) and inoculated with 1000 eggs and second-stage juveniles of M. javanica. At 60 days after inoculation, beetroot plants were harvested and evaluated for nematode population density, vegetative growth, and mineral content. All potential elicitors reduced nematode population density in beetroots (p ≤ 0.10) and improved the vegetative parameters of inoculated plants (p ≤ 0.05), except shoot fresh weight. Some minerals were found to be negatively affected by treatments, particularly calcium, whose levels were consistently lower in treated plants. On the other hand, M. javanica inoculation increased magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, and copper contents in beetroots. However, the latter mineral (Cu content) of inoculated plants was positively influenced by MOS and ASM. Potential elicitor treatments did not improve the mineral composition of beetroot, but were effective in reducing nematode population density. Plants inoculated with M. javanica had higher mineral levels. However, gall formation decreases the commercial value of the crop and might render it unsuitable for commercialisation. M. javanica-infected beetroots may be used for nutrient extraction or sold to food processing industries.

中文翻译：

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甜菜根的矿物质成分用潜在引发剂处理并接种了麦角线虫

根结线虫Meloidogyne javanica可以感染甜菜根，对这种粮食作物造成广泛损害。由于化学和遗传控制策略显示出有限的功效，因此需要新的策略来改善该寄生虫的综合管理。这项研究评估了潜在的防御诱导剂和M. javanica感染对甜菜根矿物质组成的影响。用苯并噻吩-S-甲基（ASM），柑橘类生物质或甘露寡糖基产品（MOS）处理植物，并接种1000个卵和爪哇分枝杆菌的第二阶段幼虫。接种后60天，收获甜菜根植物并评估其线虫种群密度，营养生长和矿物质含量。所有潜在的引发剂都降低了甜菜根中的线虫种群密度（p≤0。10）改善了已接种植物的营养参数（p≤0.05），但苗芽鲜重除外。发现某些矿物质受到处理的负面影响，尤其是钙，其含量在处理过的植物中始终较低。另一方面，爪哇分枝杆菌的接种增加了甜菜根中镁，铁，锰，锌和铜的含量。但是，接种植物的后一种矿物（铜含量）受到MOS和ASM的积极影响。潜在的引发剂处理不能改善甜菜根的矿物质组成，但可以有效降低线虫种群密度。接种爪哇木兰的植物的矿物质含量较高。但是，gall形成会降低农作物的商业价值，并可能使其不适合商业化。M.