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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #254992
Title: Occurrence and distribution of nematodes in Idaho crops

Author
item HAFEZ, SAAD - University Of Idaho
item SUNDARARAJ, PALANISAMY - University Of Idaho
item Handoo, Zafar
item SIDDIQI, MOHAMMAD - Nematode Taxonomy Laboratory

Submitted to: International Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2010
Publication Date: 6/30/2010
Citation: Hafez, S., Sundararaj, A.P., Handoo, Z.A., Siddiqi, M.R. 2010. Occurrence and distribution of nematodes in Idaho crops. International Journal of Nematology. 20(1):91-98.

Interpretive Summary: Plant-parasitic nematodes are microscopic worms that feed on plants and cause an estimated ten billion dollars of crop losses each year in the United States and 100 billion dollars globally. One problem with determining the extent of nematode damage to crop plants is that the nematodes present in many areas are not known, such as in the case of Idaho. Therefore, crop specialists routinely conduct field surveys looking for the presence of nematodes. In this study, researchers from the University of Idaho conducted a survey of nematodes associated with Idaho crops; an ARS scientist from Beltsville provided assistance in identifying the species of nematodes. This research revealed the presence of 84 species of nematodes from 29 crops in 20 counties in Idaho. The results are significant because this is the first report of several of these species in Idaho. This research will be of use to scientists, growers, action agencies and extension agencies involved in nematode research and control.

Technical Abstract: Surveys were conducted in Idaho during the 2000-2006 cropping seasons to study the occurrence, population density, host association and distribution of plant-parasitic nematodes associated with major crops, grasses and weeds. Eighty-four species and 43 genera of plant-parasitic nematodes were recorded in soil samples from 29 crops in 20 counties in Idaho, USA. Among them, 37 species and 32 genera have new species records in this region. The highest number of species belonged to the genus Pratylenchus; P. neglectus was the predominant species among all species of the identified genera. Among the endoparasitic nematodes, the highest percentage of occurrence in samples was Pratylenchus (29.7) followed by Meloidogyne (4.4) and Heterodera (3.4). Among the ectoparasitic nematodes, Helicotylenchus was predominant (8.3) followed by Mesocriconema (5.0) and Tylenchorhynchus (4.8).