Management Options for Control of a Stunt and Needle Nematode in Southern Forest Nurseries

Crop rotation and fallow are management options that can be used to control plant parasitic nematodes in forest tree nurseries. Before these options can be put into practice, it is important to determine the host range and survivability under fallow of the parasitic nematode to be controlled. The results of host range tests on a needle nematode (Longidorus spp.) and a stunt nematode (Tylenchorhynchus ewingi) indicate that crop rotation practices were a factor leading up to the development of damage by these nematodes at 2 Southern nurseries. The needle nematode became a problem in a field following crop rotations of loblolly pine with white oak. The host range of the needle nematode was found to include white (Quercus alba), live (Quercus virginiana), water (Q. nigra), southern red (Q. falcata), and northern red (Q. rubra) oaks. Results of a fallow study with the needle nematode indicate that control may be achieved with 1 year of fallow or crop rotations with a nonhost. The host range test of the stunt nematode found that loblolly pine, several legumes, rye, and several sorghum varieties were good hosts for the nematode. Poor hosts of the stunt nematode included wheat, ryegrass, and oats. Pearl and brown top millet were found to be nonhosts of the stunt nematode. Additional research is needed to identify other hosts and nonhosts of the stunt and other nematodes, and the ability of nematodes to survive in the absence of a host.