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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #420367
Research Project: Optimizing and Stabilizing Economic and Ecological Sustainability of Pacific Northwest Seed Cropping Systems Under Current and Future Climate Conditions

Location: Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit

Title: A community analysis of plant-parasitic nematodes on coastal Oregon golf course putting greens

Author
item BRAITHWAITE, EMILY - Oregon State University
item STARCHVICK, ROBERT - Oregon State University
item KOWALEWSKI, ALEC - Oregon State University
item Temple, Todd
item Baker, Hannah
item Kitner, Megan
item Peetz, Amy
item Zasada, Inga
item Rivedal, Hannah

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/8/2025
Publication Date: 4/15/2025
Citation: Braithwaite, E.T., Starchvick, R.J., Kowalewski, A.R., Temple, T.N., Baker, H.V., Kitner, M.L., Peetz, A.B., Zasada, I.A., Rivedal, H.M. 2025. A community analysis of plant-parasitic nematodes on coastal Oregon golf course putting greens. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-02-25-0431-RE.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-02-25-0431-RE

Interpretive Summary: Pacific Northwest (PNW) golf course putting greens have had increasing records of damage due to plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN). However, there is a lack of information on the PPN species present and their distribution in the region. To better understand the PPN associated with PNW golf greens, a survey in Oregon was conducted in 2023, evaluating 30 putting greens at five courses throughout the year. Visual identification and sequence identification efforts were utilized to categorize the PPN population associated with each green at each sampling timepoint. This effort recovered 13 PPN species, with varied population levels depending on grass host. Two species, Helicotylenchus pseudorobustus and Meloidogyne naasi, were identified at every sampled course. This is the first comprehensive survey of golf course putting green PPN communities across seasons in the PNW. With an increase in damage symptoms reported in this region, there is a need for further assessment of PPN impacts on PNW golf courses.

Technical Abstract: Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) are important pests affecting golf course putting greens. Recently PPN have become a pest of concern in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), but relatively little information exists on species present or their distribution across the region. A survey and community analysis of PPN across five independently managed golf courses within one larger facility in Oregon was conducted. In 2023, soil samples were collected from 30 putting greens in January, May, August, and November, nematodes extracted using two methods, and identified using morphological and molecular methods. PPN community diversity measures were assessed. PerMANOVA testing indicated significant differences in PPN communities between season, host grass species (Festuca rubra ssp. vs. Poa annua L.), and extraction method. Helicotylenchus and Meloidogyne were the most encountered PPN, with maximum population densities of 20,776 and 59,100 nematodes 100 cc-1 soil, respectively. Indicator species analysis revealed Meloidogyne as a PPN of concern across P. annua courses, particularly in January when population densities were highest, just prior to reported damage. Representative populations from each course were collected for speciation. Two PPN species were identified at all courses, Helicotylenchus pseudorobustus and Meloidogyne naasi, whilst other species were found to be host specific. An unidentified species of Heterodera was recovered from mixed stand putting greens. This is the first comprehensive survey of golf course putting green PPN communities across seasons in the PNW. With an increase in damage symptoms reported in this region, there is a need for further assessment of PPN impacts on PNW golf courses.