Duration: 10/01/2026 to 09/30/2031

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Nematodes are unsegmented roundworms that comprise about 70% of the animals on earth. Most of these are very small, requiring a microscope to see them. While small, nematodes serve a variety of functions in the environment, and a balanced nematode community is a key component of soil health. Certain nematodes are plant-parasites that damage plants and contribute to food insecurity and economic losses. The objective of this project is to protect agricultural, horticultural, and forestry crops from harmful plant-parasitic nematodes while maintaining balanced nematode community structure and soil health. Project researchers in multiple states will conduct research to develop nematode management  strategies that are effective, practical, and economical. The results will be communicated to public stakeholders using multiple methods depending on the target stakeholder group. 

Statement of Issues and Justification

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.

Related, Current and Previous Work

While a few other NIMSS projects address nematode management issues, only a small number share partial overlap with the subject matter of the proposed NE2640 project. These projects do not focus on the same newly emerging nematode pests, nor do they consider the broad diversity of cropping systems encompassed by NE2640. This limited alignment underscores critical research gaps and unmet grower needs that would remain unaddressed without the implementation of our proposed project.

 NC1197. Management of nematodes on corn, soybeans and other crops of regional importance. This project shares a focus on management, as well as soil health, but their primary focus is on pathogen interactions. The description of soil health focus is on pathogen interactions and fertilizer use efficiency. Senyu Chen and Haddish Melakeberhan overlap on both projects.

S1092/S1096. Biology, ecology, and management of emerging nematode threats in the Southern United States. This project focuses on Southern region of the U.S. which is different from our Northeastern region focus. No members overlap on both projects.

W5186. Variability, adaptation and management of nematodes impacting crop production and trade. This project focuses on understanding nematode genetic variability and adaptation in warm and temperate cropping systems. Soil health is not a focus on W5186. Root-knot and cyst-forming nematodes are the primary focus. Haddish Melakeberhan overlaps this project.

Objectives

1. 1. Develop new sustainable nematode management strategies through judicious use of nematicides, biological control and bionematicides, deployment of resistant varieties and rootstocks, strategic cover cropping and crop rotation, and soil amendments for open field as well as high tunnel and protected agriculture.
   Comments: Overreliance on a single nematode management tool, whether chemical or genetic, has been shown to be unsustainable for most agricultural systems. Members of our group have recently detected nematicide resistance in several species of plant-parasitic nematodes resulting in grower overuse of a single class of new-generation nematicides. Similarly, soybean cyst nematode management has relied on a single source of plant resistance whose long-term use has selected for resistance breaking nematode populations. Therefore, our investigations of plant-parasitic nematode management will focus on the development of multiple tactics and integrating them into effective, economical, and sustainable programs using strategies discussed below.
2. 2. Determine the impacts of nematode management on environmental health by using nematodes as bioindicators of soil health.
   Comments: Participants will assess changes in nematode community structure in response to different agricultural practices or using entomopathogenic nematodes as biocontrol agents against insect pests.
3. 3. Understanding nematode-microbe interactions for: a. plant disease management, b. stimulation of plant defense, and c. development of suppressive soil.
   Comments: Use of biological control of plant pests is increasingly important due to public demand for reduced reliance on pesticides.
4. 4. Exploring new and emerging nematode problems impacting agriculture, horticulture, and forestry, including but not limited to beach leaf disease, b. tropical root-knot nematodes in protected agriculture systems, c. foliar nematodes in horticulture crops, c. and invasive nematode spread into new regions.
   Comments: Extreme weather patterns, human activity, over-reliance on individual sources of resistance, and loss of certain nematicides have contributed to the rise of new nematode challenges. Because these emerging nematode pests are not well characterized, this project will target on addressing emerging problems in nematode management.
5. 5. Public engagement related to integrated nematode management: a. Nematode diagnostics, b. Stakeholder education and training, c. Resource development and delivery, i.e. extension publications, web, social media, SCN Coalition, etc.
   Comments: Our end goal is not just to investigate, but to produce transformational results that are used by stakeholders to enhance their economic and environmental sustainability.

Methods

Objective 1: Develop new sustainable nematode management strategies through judicious use of nematicides, biological control and bionematicides, deployment of resistant varieties and rootstocks, strategic cover cropping and crop rotation, and soil amendments for open field as well as high tunnel and protected agriculture.

Group members (FL, RI) will continue to study nematicide resistance and resistance management in turfgrass systems. Long-term nematicide rotations experiments have been initiated to evaluate integration of different nematicides and bionematicides in programs to effectively manage plant-parasitic nematodes on turf while avoiding nematicide resistance. Another project is to identify the mechanisms and genetics involved in nematicide resistance to develop rapid resistance detection protocols for use in diagnostic settings for rapid resistance detection.

Members Our members (FL, RI, MI, CA, PA) will work with industry partners evaluating new nematicide and bionematicide active ingredients and formulations for use against plant-parasitic nematodes in our relevant cropping systems. Some of our members work largely with minor-use, specialty, and forestry crops that are considered niche markets by large pesticide manufacturers and not given much effort by them. Therefore, our efforts provide a key service to our stakeholders, assisting to bring them nematode management tools and developing the information on how these tools can be best used in their specific situations.

 Some of our members (MI, GA) work with large agricultural crops like soybean, peanut, potato, and cotton, others work primarily with small diverse farms with high-value crops (PA, HI, CA, RI, FL). We plan to continue our ongoing efforts to evaluate crop rotations and cover crops that can be used to manage plant-parasitic nematodes and promote soil health. We will work with public and private plant breeders to develop and test nematode resistance in our stakeholder’s crops. Our members will continue evaluating soil amendments for nematode suppression and how they can be used effectively and economically by our stakeholders.

 Objective 2: Determine the impacts of nematode management on environmental health by using nematodes as bioindicators of soil health;

Participants will assess changes in nematode community structure in response to different agricultural practices or using entomopathogenic nematodes as biocontrol agents against insect pests (3, 41).

The use of cover crops produces numerous effects on the soil community. Nematode suppressive cover crops also impact soil fertility, non-target organisms, and interactions with weed and arthropod pests (40). Effects of cover crops on the nematode community will be assessed in field experiments (HI, MI, GA). Soil quality aspects will also be assessed in some of these trials.

Soil amendments such as manure or compost increase soil microbial activity, resulting in a cascade of population changes through the soil food web that may suppress plant-parasitic nematodes. Soil food web responses to these amendments will be assessed in studies in potato (MI); turfgrass (FL), and vegetables (HI). Nematode community analyses will be employed as indicators of soil health. The nature of the organic amendments tested will vary by state depending on the availability of local materials, crops grown, and local conditions, but will include locally sourced composts, biofumigation crops, agriculture waste materials, manures, and biochar.

A combination of the soil food web model and the fertilizer use efficiency model (25), will be applied to identify sustainable outcomes (MI). We hope to identify parameters of soil conditions related to location-specific and/or broad approaches to nematode communities and soil health objectives and manipulate these under field conditions

 Objective 3: Understanding nematode-microbe interactions for: a. plant disease management, b. stimulation of plant defense, and c. development of suppressive soil.

A number of long-term studies (HI, MI), either through cover cropping, soil amendment, conservation tillage practice, shelterbelt planting, or sheet mulching, will be conducted in organic farming systems, either on commercial farms or at experiment stations, to address the increasing needs of organic pest management strategies. In GA, different crop rotations will be evaluated for enhanced suppression of root-not nematodes by the bacterial nematode-parasite Pasteuria penetrans. Understanding the effects of farming practices on changes in soil microbiomes or an increase in predatory nematodes that can eventually contribute to nematode-suppressive soils is a key component of this objective.

The recycling of organic farm waste for nematode management is becoming more popular. Additional effort will also be explored to investigate the potential of using soil organic amendments to enhance plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), while triggering the induced systemic resistance (ISR) pathway in plants will also be studied. For example, research in FL will seek to identify specific actinomycete strains present in nematode-suppressive compost that enhance plant defenses to nematodes.  

In HA organic wastes including manure, nut processing residues, and vegetable processing residues will be evaluated for biofumigation and nematode suppressive effects. Group members in PA, CA, HI, and MI will conduct experiments evaluating anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) using locally available organic materials with or without addition of target microbes to enhance the anaerobic conditions. In HA and CA residues from nematode antagonistic cover crops such as sudangrass ‘Piper’, crotalaria, and velvetbean will be evaluated as substrates for ASD. In PA, biochar together with Trichoderma spp., Bacillus spp., Paenibacillus spp. will be evaluated for enhanced nematode suppression in high-tunnel vegetable production.  

 Objective 4. Exploring new and emerging nematode problems impacting agriculture, horticulture, and forestry: a. Beech leaf disease, b. tropical root-knot nematodes in protected agriculture systems, c. foliar nematodes in horticulture crops, c. invasive nematode spread into new regions.

Beech leaf disease was first reported in Ohio in 2012 and diagnosed to be caused by a new nematode species, Litylenchus crenatae . The disease has since been spread to beech trees in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Ontario, Canada. The disease causes defoliation and death of beech trees and is a great threat to the forestry industry and the natural environment in the northern US. The dispersal mechanism of this nematode and its management will be evaluated in forestry, landscape, and nursery settings (PA, RI, OH).

Foliar nematodes, Aphelenchoides spp. are problems in ornamental plant nurseries and landscapes, with A. pseudobesseyi being a major problem in tropical regions like FL and A fragaria being common in temperate regions like the NE US. Additionally, studies of beech leaf disease have found an unknown species of Aphelenchoides associated with beech leaf nematode, but the relationships and interactions between these two nematodes are unknown. Studies will be conducted to better understand the dispersal of these nematodes, the threats they cause, and their management (FL, PA, OH, MI).

Golf courses in the northern US primarily use cool-season grass species such as bluegrass, bentgrass and fescue, while southern US golf courses depend on warm-season grasses such as bermudagrass and zoysia. The range for warm-season grasses is expanding with new pattern of weather (Hatfield, 2017). Warm-season grasses are often more susceptible to damage from plant-parasitic nematodes such as sting or root-knot nematodes than cool-season grasses due to its vegetative mode of propagation. As warm-season grasses are adopted farther north, golf course superintendents are faced with new nematode problems. Our research will seek ways to slow the spread of these nematodes and to identify managements tactics for them relevant to the NE region (RI, FL).

The tropical root-knot nematode species Meloidogyne enterolobii and M. floridensis are of particular importance because the resistance genes being used for management of other root-knot nematode species in vegetables, are ineffective against these two species (Castagnone-Sereno, 2012). Meloidogyne enterolobii has been found in Florida, Louisiana (Hare, 2019), South Carolina (Rutter et al.,  2019) and North Carolina (Schwartz et al., 2020), and M. floridensis has recently been detected in California (Westphal et al., 2019), and more recently in GA and SC. Preemptive measures need to be in place before these nematodes are detected in HI. Further, the tropical species M. javanica has recently been identified as a major problem in high-tunnel production in PA. The dispersal and management of these tropical nematodes in protected agriculture will be studied (PA, RI, HI, FL, MI).

 Objective 5. Public engagement related to integrated nematode management: a. Nematode diagnostics, b. Stakeholder education and training, c. Resource development and delivery, i.e. extension publications, web, social media, SCN Coalition, etc.

 (see Outreach Plan below)

Measurement of Progress and Results

Outputs

• • At least one manuscript per year will be produced by each PI related to objectives 1-4, and at least two extension articles will be produced in each state each year (Objective 5).
• • At least one graduate student will be trained and graduated by most PIs during this 5 years. These will be capable of serving as the next generation of nematologists/soil health promoting scientists.
• • Recommendations for cover crops that suppress nematodes and enhance soil health will be available via referred publication and extension publications in member states.
• • Recommendations for use of new reduced-risk nematicides and bionematicides will be available through extension publication in member states.
• • Nematicide resistance detection protocols will be developed and implemented.
• • Results of screening turfgrass cultivars for resistance to sting, lance and root knot nematodes will be available.
• • Recommendations for using soil amendments for nematode management will be available through extension publication in member states.
• • The composition of plant-parasitic nematodes in high-tunnel production in member states and appropriate management practices for them will be known.
• • Dispersal of beech leaf nematode will be better understood.
• • Sampling for nematodes in commercial solanaceous production fields, beech forests, and production facilities for ornamentals (among others) will provide up-to-date understanding of nematode distributions and possible spread of new and emerging nematode pathogens.
• • Routine nematode management lectures for a new farmers training program, GoFarm Hawaii (https://gofarmhawaii.org/), and extension newsletter articles to update research conducted on sheet mulching and nematode survey for Hawaii will be shared with stakeholders.

Outcomes or Projected Impacts

• • Use of a soybean cyst nematode trap crop will be adopted in multiple states.
• • A combined remote and ground truth nematode sampling protocol will become accepted by the discipline of nematology.
• • Tree fruit producers will have new recommendations for managing dagger nematode and Peach Stem Pitting disease.
• • High-tunnel producers will be aware of the current problem with root-knot nematodes and have management strategies for them.
• • Understanding of nematicide resistance will facilitate adoption of rotation of active ingredients and integrated pest management.
• • Growers will have increased confidence in use of cultural practices such as manure and compost amendments, anaerobic soil disinfestation, and nematode-suppressive cover crops.
• • Reports on superior efficacies of some soil treatment options will have led to their registration and broad use patterns.
• • Cover crop management recommendations will have been vetted under commercial conditions, and two cover crops fit for multiple nematode infestations are available for use.

Milestones

(2026):• Initiate studies on resistance detection in lant-parasitic nematodes • Continue field studies on resistance management in golf turf. • Initiate studies of microbial components of nematode suppression in compost • Initiate or continue long-term experiments to examine new soil amendment materials and techniques against Meloidogyne spp. in vegetables, and other nematodes in grain crops. • Evaluate the effects of identified non-host or nematode-suppressive rotational crops against different nematodes in multiple states under field conditions. • Screen for nematode suppressive soils • Evaluate new nematicidal products for efficacy in turfgrass, perennial and field crops • Begin germplasm resistance screening in multiple crops • Begin/continue long-term experiments to examine non-target effects of nematode treatments on soil biology • Initiate experiments using physical practices such as heat and anaerobic soil disinfestation on nematode populations. • Begin screening for new and emerging nematode pathogens. • Conduct grower education, annual short courses, webinars, field days. • Maintain nematode diagnostic services for growers and extension specialists. • Select high-tunnel cooperators for sampling nematode communities.

(2027):• Screen for nematode suppressive soils • Test nematode management practices for potential to induce suppressive soils. • Adjust cover- and rotation-crop experimental designs based on previous results. • Continue experiments to examine non-target effects of nematode treatments on soil biology. • Continue experiments on soil amendment materials and techniques against plant-parasitic nematodes. • Continue experiments using physical practices targeted against nematode populations. • Adjust and expand germplasm resistance screening in multiple crops. • Evaluate new nematicidal products for efficacy in turfgrass, perennial and field crops. Integrate effective products into management systems. • Screen for new and emerging nematode pathogens, expand screening as practical. • Conduct grower education, annual short course, webinars, field days, conduct site visits. • Complete studies on resistance detection. Submit for publication. • Publish preliminary results

(2028):• Continue testing potential nematode management practices to develop suppressive soils. • Continue cover- and rotation-crop experiments. • Analyze data on non-target effects of nematode treatments on soil biology. • Analyze data on soil amendment materials and techniques. • Integrate effective new nematicidal products into management systems. • Integrate cover- and rotation-crops into management systems. • Adjust and expand germplasm resistance screening. • Continue screening for new and emerging nematode pathogens. • Publish preliminary results where possible. • Conduct grower education, webinars, field days, publish outreach materials, conduct site visits • Deducing relationships between cover crop rhizosphere and microbial communities. • Conduct NPDN workshop on nematicide resistance detection

(2029):• Analyze and publish germplasm resistance screening results, and data on suppressive soils for potential nematode management practices • Conclude and evaluate long-term impacts of cover- and rotation-crop experiments, and integrate into management systems • Integrate effective new nematicidal products into management systems • Conclude primary screening for new and emerging nematode pathogens and publish data • Publish results • Conduct grower education, field days, publish outreach materials, conduct site visits

(2030):• Analyze data, present reports at stakeholder and professional meetings, and publish results in peer-reviewed journals. • Publish fact sheets aimed at nematode management and soil biology of nematodes • Continue grower education • Summarize and update Cover Crop recommendation website (https://cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/wangkh/Research-and-Extension/Cover-Crops)

Projected Participation

View Participation Form/Appendix E: Participation

Outreach Plan

Nematode diagnostics: Several members (FL, PA, RI) are formally involved in nematode diagnostics, while most others assist with diagnostics to various degrees.  As diagnosticians, these serve as first-detectors for new and invasive plant-parasitic nematodes and nematode-host associations, and monitors of nematode geographical dispersal. As new detections and observations are made these members will inform the relevant state and federal regulatory agencies in real time through established protocols, the scientific community through refereed publications and presentations at scientific meetings, and stakeholders through cooperative extension programing.  As individual diagnoses are conducted, the best nematode management practices resulting from the project research will be communicated directly to the stakeholders.

Nematode extraction and identification training for diagnosticians will be conducted through coordination with the National Plant Diagnostics network in the Southern region (FL) and the Northeastern region (PA). These workshops will prepare diagnosticians to know how to properly process plant and soil materials from different crops in the region, how to identify and diagnose common pest nematodes that threaten  agriculture in the region, and how to recognize invasive pest nematodes when they occur.

Nematicide resistance detection methodologies being developed by members in FL will be immediately implemented by the Florida Nematode Assay Lab as a standard service. The methodologies will be disseminated to the scientific community through referred publication and presentations at scientific meetings. Further, a workshop for diagnosticians will be hosted by members in FL through the National Plant Diagnostic Network.

Resource development and delivery: Specific to the soybean cyst nematode outreach plan, new findings and general information will be made available to the agricultural community and other stakeholders through participation in the Soybean Cyst Nematode Coalition (Markel et al., 2020) as well as through individual members extension programs..

Other NE-2640 Extension and Outreach will include grower-clientele meetings, demonstration field days, state and local media events, extension bulletins and other publications, short courses and direct grower-clientele contacts. The Outreach-Public Relation-Extension Objective will involve outreach-public relations initiatives from all participating states. Participation in each of the seven activity areas is documented in the table below.

 

NE-2640 Extension-Outreach-Public Relations	Participating States
Grower-Clientele Meetings	CA, FL, HI, MI, PA, OH, RI.
Demonstration Field Days	CA, FL, HI, MI, PA, RI, GA
Local, State and Regional Media Events	MI, PA
Extension Bulletins-Other Publications	FL, HI, MI, PA
Short Courses	FL
Direct Grower-Clientele Contacts	CA, FL, PA, HI, MI, OH, RI, TN.

Organization/Governance

The technical committee will consist of at least one voting member from each of the participating states (Appendix E), the administrative advisor, and the NIFA representative. The technical committee will elect a chairperson, secretary, and at least one member-at-large to serve as an executive committee that will serve two years. The regional Technical committee will meet annually to report on the research results obtained, discuss and exchange information and ideas and to plan and coordinate next year’s work relating to the objectives of this proposal. A coordinator for each of the objectives may be designated to facilitate the coordination and reporting of the research being conducted by the collaborators. The technical committee may invite other scientists with experience in biological control, crop production systems, integrated pest management, sustainable agricultural practices, and others to participate in the annual meeting to provide specific information and strengthen the discussion.

Literature Cited

1. Bonkowski, J., Crow, W. T., and Habteweld, A. 2022. First report of Belonolaimus longicaudatus infecting soybean in Indiana. Journal of Nematology 54:e0034.
2. Braley, L., Myers, R., Paudel, R., Su, W.W., and Wang, K.-H. Papaya Seed Extract for Management of Radopholus similis on Anthurium. Journal of Nematology 58: 116–125 (DOI: 10.2478/jofnem-2026-0003).
3. Budhathoki, S., B. Sipes, I. Shikano, R. Myers and K.-H. Wang. 2022. Integrating trap cropping and entomopathogenic nematode foliar sprays to manage diamondback moth and imported cabbage worm. Horticulturae, 8(11):1073 (https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8111073).
4. Choi, C. J., Valiente, J., Schiavon, M., Dhillon, B., Crow, W. T., and Stingl U. Bermudagrass cultivars with different tolerance to nematode damage are characterized by distinct fungal but similar bacterial and archaeal microbiomes.  Microorganisms 10:e457.
5. Colbert‐Pitts, M., Kantor, M.R., Jansen, A., Burke, D.J. and Vieira, P., 2025. Cellular Dynamics of Beech Leaf Disease on Fagus sylvatica.Plant Pathology, 74(5), pp.1389-1406. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.14101.
6. Darling, E., Palmisano, A., Chung, H. and Quintanilla, M. 2023 A new biological product showing promising control of the northern root knot nematode, Meloidogyne hapla, in greenhouse tomatoes. Journal of Nematology 55(1). DOI: 10.2478/jofnem-2023-0023
7. Darling, E., Núñez-Rodríguez, L., Chung, H., Zasada, I., Quintanilla-Tornel, M. 2023. The hop cyst nematode, Heterodera humuli: history, distribution, and impact on global hop production. Phytopathology 116:142-149. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-04-22-0121-RVW
8. Eberlein, C., A. Edalati, R. Zhang, A. Westphal. 2023. Effects of substrate and processing conditions on nematode suppressiveness of anaerobic biogas digestates. PhytoFrontiers 3: 399-410. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-11-22-0126-R
9. Eberlein, C., A. Westphal. 2023. Suppression of Meloidogyne incognita by co-application of chitin and Streptomyces nigrescens (AMV1033). Biocontrol Science and Technology 33: 484-498. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2023.2204513
10. Espinoza-Lozano, L., Joseph, S., Crow, W. T., Noling, J., and Mekete T.   Meloidogyne haplanaria: An emerging threat to tomato production in Florida. Journal of Nematology 54:e0032.
11. Goraya, M., Kantor, C., Vieira, P., Martin, D., Kantor, M. Deciphering the Vectors: Unveiling the local dispersal of Litylenchus crenatae mccannii in the American beech (Fagus grandifolia) forest ecosystem.2024. PLoS ONE 19(11): e0311830. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311830
12. Habteweld, A., Baniya, C., and Crow, W. T. Morphological and molecular characterization of Pratylenchus hippeastri (Nematode-Pratylenchidae) parasitizing muscadine grape in Florida. Nematropica 51:56-66.
13. Habteweld, A., Mendes, M. L., Inserra, R. N., Crow, W. T. Phylogenetic relationships of Belonolaimus longicaudatus populations associated with turfgrasses in the southeastern USA. Nematropica 51:41-55.
14. Howland, A., Cole, E., Poley, K., and Quintanilla, M. 2022. Alternative management strategies and impact of the northern root-knot nematode in daylily production. Plant Health Progress 24(2), 180-187. Journal impact factor: 2.3. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-08-22-0076-RS
15. Howland, A.D., Cole, E., Parrado, L., and Quintanilla, M. 2024. New management systems to control the northern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne hapla) in daylily (Hemerocallis spp.) ornamental plant production fields. Crop Protection, 106820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2024.106820
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17. Kammerer, C. L., Harmon, P. F., Crow, W. T. 2023. Reduced sensitivity to fluopyram in Meloidogyne graminisfollowing long-term exposure in golf turf. Journal of Nematology 55:e2023-0048.
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