Journal of Nematology (2005) 37, 364-365

M. Davila, L.H. Allen and D.W. Dickson (2005)
Influence of soil temperatures under polyethylene mulch and bare soil on root-knot nematode egg laying
Journal of Nematology 37 (3), 364-365
44th Annual Meeting, Society of Nematologists, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 9-13 July, 2005
Abstract: The first egg laying by Meloidogyne arenaria race 1, M. javanica, and M. incognita race 4 was determined on four squash (Cucurbita moschata) crops grown on raised black polyethylene mulched drip irrigated beds or bare beds during two spring and two fall seasons in Florida. All beds were fumigated before planting in spring with methyl bromide 67-33 at 392 kg/ha. Nematode eggs were inoculated into each plant-hole at 6,000/plant-hole and then squash was seeded into the plant-holes. A second crop followed in the fall and the experiment was repeated the following year. Plots were arranged in a randomized complete block with four reps. Soil temperature was recorded at five depths (8, 23, 38, 53, 69 cm) using a temperature logger. Root systems were sampled every 2 days, stained and dissected to determine different developmental stages until appearance of egg laying females. Soil covered with mulch showed a higher mean soil temperature, and the number of days required for egg laying was decreased compared to bare beds. Time and degree days (DD) above base temperatures 8.8, 10.2, and 9.3°C for egg laying in mulched beds was ca. 16 days and 343 DD, 16 days and 320 DD, and 14 days and 307 DD for M. arenaria, M. javanica, and M. incognita, respectively. Egg laying was delayed about 2 days on bare soil compared with mulched soil for all nematode species and the number of DD accumulated increased due to the increase in days. All three Meloidogyne spp. evaluated showed similar DD requirements for egg laying in a range of 307-343 DD. This information may be useful for predicting egg mass formation by M. arenaria, M. javanica, and M. incognita under different climatic conditions, and also for estimation of numbers of generations completed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
population dynamics/ epidemiology

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Meloidogyne javanica	Squash/pumpkin (Cucurbita)	U.S.A. (SE)
	Meloidogyne incognita	Squash/pumpkin (Cucurbita)	U.S.A. (SE)
	Meloidogyne arenaria	Squash/pumpkin (Cucurbita)	U.S.A. (SE)