The need.  Plant-parasitic nematodes are a major constraint to crop production, causing significant yield losses, quality degradation, and economic damage across nearly all agronomic and horticultural crops. In the northeastern United States, cropping systems and associated nematode pests exhibit a high degree of diversity, reflecting a wide range of region-specific challenges that also align with issues faced in other parts of the country. Key nematode groups of concern include root-knot, lesion, dagger, foliar, stem and bulb, cyst nematodes, and various genera that affect turfgrass. With the phase-out of many older chemical nematicides, discovery of resistance to some of the newer nematicides (17), and nematodes overcoming plant resistance in certain major crops, managing these pests in complex cropping systems has become increasingly difficult—particularly when the goal is to enhance nematode community structure, a recognized indicator of soil health (23, 25). There is an urgent need for controlled environment or high tunnel crop production, and urban agriculture, to cope with these changes. Thus, a comprehensive evaluation of how nematode management strategies influence both nematode community dynamics and soil health across open-field or controlled-environment agricultural systems is needed. This proposed five-year multistate initiative aims to build upon the current project’s progress in developing ecologically sound nematode management practices that align with broader goals of soil and plant health.

Importance of work and consequences if not done.  Consumers across the United States expect agricultural and horticultural products to be of high quality, affordable, and readily available. To meet these demands, producers in the Northeastern region must manage damaging nematodes effectively while maintaining, enhancing, or restoring soil health. Elevated populations of plant-parasitic nematodes lead to reduced yields and poor-quality crops, threatening farm profitability and food security. Imbalanced nematode communities are also a hallmark of degraded soils. Effective management must therefore focus on suppressing harmful nematodes while promoting beneficial groups—such as bacterial-feeding, fungal-feeding, omnivorous, and predatory nematodes—that play vital roles in soil food webs, nutrient cycling, and biological control.

Farmers are increasingly committed to sustainable nematode management strategies that support soil health. However, they urgently need improved tools and technologies to achieve these goals. Compounding the challenge, invasive nematodes like those responsible for beech leaf disease, and resistance breaking root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii, are spreading across the region, posing serious threats to forest and ornamental tree health. Additionally, endemic nematode species from southern states (e.g., Florida, California, Hawaii) have the potential to expand into new areas of the U.S., further complicating management efforts.

Without the research and education initiatives outlined in this proposed project, the economic viability and ecological integrity of farms and forests in the Northeast would face potentially devastating challenges.

 Technical feasibility of work. Significant progress has been made in the ongoing Multistate Research Project (NE2140) over the past 5 years where we have been demonstrating that many kinds of plant-parasitic nematodes can be reliably managed using ecologically based cultural practices. A partial list of the resulting refereed publications are listed in the reference section These include host-plant resistance (4, 35) nematode-antagonistic cover crops for rotation (3,22, 30, 31, 32, 33, 39, ), targeted soil amendments (2, 8, 9, 14, 15, 21, 28, 34, 38, 42, 43, 44), biological control agents (9, 14, 20, 28, 29, 33, 34), and low-risk pesticides (6, 14, 15, 37).

 Current research efforts are expanding to assess the ecological impacts of these management systems, with a particular focus on their influence on nematode community structure and overall soil health. In keeping with the principles of integrated pest and soil health management, commercial nematicides, biological controls, soil amendments, cover crops, and resistance genes are being evaluated within cultural and biological frameworks to better understand their compatibility and long-term effects. Project members are among the leaders in fields of nematode management, nematode diagnostics, nematode-microbe interactions, nematode-plant interactions, and nematodes in soil health. Project members are also involved in extension to ensure that research outcomes translate into practical, resilient solutions for growers.

Advantages of a multistate effort.  Agriculture in the Northeastern United States is highly diverse, with individual farms often cultivating multiple crops—adding complexity to management decisions. This diversity is mirrored in the wide range of nematode pathogens affecting these crops, further complicating both pest management and grower education. Despite the breadth of cropping systems and nematode challenges, the region has relatively few nematologists, and its agricultural programs are generally smaller than those in the Midwest and South. As a result, individual scientists face the daunting task of developing expertise in the biology, management, and ecological interactions of numerous nematode species across a wide array of crops within their state.

To address these challenges, the project capitalizes on a robust multistate network of nematologists, fostering mutual learning and collaborative problem-solving. Scientists working on similar cropping systems outside the Northeast contribute valuable insights, enriching the group’s collective knowledge. Similarly, identified advances, practices, and solutions have positive impacts in other U.S. regions. Crops studied within the project span small and tree fruits and nuts, diverse vegetables, row crops, turfgrass, nursery and landscape ornamentals, and forest trees. Sharing expertise across regions—especially where certain crops are major commodities in one state but minor in another—enables coordinated educational initiatives and strengthens outreach.

This synergistic approach has already yielded impactful results. The current multistate project has sponsored nematology short courses for agribusiness professionals, focusing on crop losses due to nematodes and management strategies such as rotation, cover cropping, and breeding for resistance. Additional short courses have been delivered for turfgrass professionals in Michigan and Rhode Island, agronomic crop consultants in New York, at the national golf course superintendent’s meetings, and new farmers through Hawaii’s GoFarm training program. These educational efforts have been well received by growers, with capacity audiences in attendance and post-training surveys showing high levels of audience adoption of recommended practices.

Looking ahead, continued collaboration among scientists across states and institutions will be essential for developing efficient, integrated research and education programs that address the evolving nematode management needs of Northeastern agriculture.

 What the likely impacts will be from successfully completing the work. Agricultural, horticultural, and forestry industries in the U.S. will be better equipped to manage plant-parasitic nematodes while sustaining soil and environmental health. Members of this group will make strides in the development, integration, and implementation of biorational methods by the contribution of this “think-tank”. By working collaboratively, utilizing the strengths and expertise of the individual members to benefit the efforts of the whole, they will achieve more positive outcomes and make greater impacts for stakeholders than working independently.