Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Objective 1 CT: Using reverse phase HPLC, we characterized seeds of Brassica spp. for predominant glucosinolate (GSL type), and conducted bioassays to determine GSL toxicity to Northern root knot and dagger nematodes (Meloidogyne hapla and Xiphinema spp.). Sinigrin was the glucosinolate with the most activity and Pacific Gold was most promising for biofumigation of M. hapla. There were significant differences between glucosinolates from different species and Xiphinema nematodes required five times the GSL concentration for similar mortality compared to M. hapla. This contrasts with field observations that Brassica biofumigation is more effective for Xiphinema than M. hapla and may be because M. hapla reproduces in brassica roots prior to biofumigation and may be protected in root fragments during biofumigation. In cooperation with R. Cowles of CAES, we conducted greenhouse and field assessment of strawberry breeding lines for resistance or tolerance to black root rot and non-preference to black vine weevil. Because of differences in disease reactions between greenhouse evaluations of juvenile plants and field evaluations of mature plants, we concluded that field evaluations with lesion nematodes are essential for black root rot tolerance. Advanced lines were planted in field plots infested with black root rot pathogens and root weevils. In the second year (first harvest year), berry yield and vigor of one line was superior. That line was also selected as having exceptional fruit quality. FL: Following a 2010 peanut crop the percentage of second-stage juveniles of root-knot nematodes with the hyperparasite Pasteuria penetrans attached ranged from 5 to 75%, with a mean of 41%. Also, the field site had a high population density of the ring nematode, Mesocriconema ornata parasitized by a ring nematode Pasteuria. This Pasteuria, which appears to be new species, was partially characterized. The number of Meloidogyne incognita second-stage juveniles that penetrated three root-knot nematode resistant tomato cultivars (Amelia, BHN 586, and Crista) after 13 days at 28 C was 4.0, 1.4, and 1.6, respectively. This compared with 86.8 for the root-knot nematode susceptible cultivar, Talladega. MA: Plant parasitic nematodes continue to result in decline of turfgrass health in golf greens as evident by 130 composite soil samples assayed during the 2010 growing season. The loss of fenamiphos and the lack of efficacious, commercially-available alternatives leave golf course superintendents with no control measures. Cultural practices that increase root development are helpful, as is raising the height of cut. While these practices do not reduce nematode populations, they allow the grass to tolerate nematode feeding. During 2010, several proprietary products showed promise when tested in the field and lab, although phytotoxicity was an issue with one product, adjustments in the application rate may prove helpful. MD: Mustard seed meals made from Brassica juncea and Sinapis alba are nematotoxic and phytotoxic. The seed meals were tested alone and in combinations to determine nematotoxic rates of application that were not toxic to pepper seedlings. Certain tested rates of the seed meals from B. juncea and from some B. juncea + S. alba combinations can be applied close to transplant to suppress M. incognita populations on pepper. MI: Pacific Gold Mustard was evaluated as a biofumigant alternative to commercial chemical fumigants for control of plant parasitic nematodes in northern Michigan cherry orchards. Biofumigation reduced population densities of plant parasitic nematodes to below the pathogenicity threshold. Random measurement of tree trunk diameters of 20 percent of trees in each row showed the trees fumigated with Telone II before planting had an average of 0.25 inches larger diameter than those planted on sites where only the biofumigation process was used. It is believed that the response to the combined chemical and biofumigation was due to better distribution of the toxicant associated with chemical fumigation. Three SDS research projects were conducted in 2010. Two were variety trials and the other an inoculation-irrigation resistant variety trial with Fusarium virguliforme (Fv) and four irritation regimes. The variety trial conducted in Macomb Co., MI at a site with a moderate population density of SCN and a relatively non-aggressive population of Fv. One SCN susceptible variety and four SCN resistant varieties plus a mixture of varieties were evaluated. The lowest bean yield was associated with the SCN susceptible variety and the highest with the multi-var mixture. SDS susceptible (DF 8251) and SDS resistant (DF 8265) varieties were used in the inoculation-irrigation trial. In all cases, directly comparable bean yields were higher for the resistant variety than for the susceptible variety. Yields of the resistant variety were lower when the seed was inoculated with Fv, compared to non-inoculated seed. The same was not readily observable for the susceptible variety. The highest bean yields were associated with the resistant variety grown with the Fv seed inoculation and irrigated from flowering to harvest. NY: Fifteen potato varieties were evaluated in field microplots for their host efficiencies to the northern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne hapla). Superior, Rosa, and Keuka Gold had the lowest root-galling severity ratings (RGSR=1.5 to 2.0 on a scale of 1-9), lowest number of juveniles and eggs/g root (32.9-64.0), and lowest soil population (35.0-225.0 J2/100cc soil), whereas NY 138 was among the most susceptible varieties to M. hapla, with RGSR of 5.3, 705 J2 and eggs/g root, and 1,650.0 J2/100cc soil. Several cultivars of mustard (Pacific Gold, Caliente 199, Ida Gold, and Tilney) and rapeseed (Dwarf Essex and Rangi) were compared to soybean and sundangrass cv. Trudan 8 in greenhouse tests for their host efficiency and suppression of M. hapla. This nematode reproduced on all the crops tested, except Sudangrass cv. Trudan 8. However, the lowest reproduction occurred on rapeseed cvs. Dwarf Essex and Rangi, whereas highest reproduction occurred on mustards cvs. Tilney, Ida Gold and Caliente 199. All the crops tested significantly suppressed M. hapla when they were incorporated as green manures in comparison to soybean. Trudan 8 and Dwarf Essex were the most effective against M. hapla in this test. RI: Twelve different varieties of Lactuca sativa with potential resistance to root-knot nematode were tested for susceptibility to M. incognita. L. sativa Red Orient has previously been demonstrated as being resistant to M. hapla but was moderately susceptible to M. incogita in these trials. The varieties Seoul Green and Seoul Ruby are presumably related to Red Orient and showed moderate to good resistance to M. incognita. The remaining ten varieties were highly susceptible to M. incognita. Four organic nematicides were compared to thiophanate-methyl to determine efficacy against stunt and lance nematodes on golf course putting greens. While at least one of the organic products slowed nematode reproduction, only thiophanate-methyl showed significant difference from the control, reducing stunt nematodes by more than half. SC: Advanced sweetpotato breeding lines from USDA Charleston, Louisiana State University, and North Carolina State University were evaluated for resistance to Southern root-knot nematodes in efforts to develop root-knot nematode resistant varieties. Advanced pepper germplasm lines were screened for resistance to Northern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne hapla, and resistant plants were selected for development of homozygous resistant lines. Advanced southernpea (cowpea) breeding lines from Louisiana State University, University of Arkansas, and Texas A&M University were evaluated for resistance to Southern root-knot nematode, M. incognita. Wild watermelon rootstock lines were evaluated as rootstocks for seedless watermelon in root-knot nematode infested fields. The wild watermelon rootstock lines exhibited moderate resistance to Southern root-knot nematode and produced higher yields than watermelon grafted on bottle gourd and squash hybrid rootstocks, which were highly susceptible. TN: Seven different species of Chenopodiaceae and Dysphania ambrosioides Glossy (epazote) were tested for ability to reduce Meloidogyne incognita invasion of tomato roots. All selections were grown to maturity, leaves were harvested, dried, and crumbled. Four selections were used as live plants to determine host status. The experiment consisted of: Rutgers tomato alone, tomato with soil amended with dried leaves, and tomato planted along with live test plants. Each pot received 10,000 M. incognita eggs. None of the live Chenopodiaceae plants reduced galling on tomato, and all but one were moderately to heavily galled. Galling in the presence of dried leaf amendments of two of the Chenopodiaceae species was reduced to a level similar to that with epazote. WV: A large farming systems trial, begun in 1999 to evaluate transition methods for conversion from conventional to organic farming practices, was continued through 2010. A vegetable crop trial evaluated a high input, compost intensive management system versus a low-input system that relies on green manures and cover crops. Soil samples were collected preplant and late season in each year and were analyzed for plant-parasitic and predatory nematodes, and assayed for nematode biocontrol agent activity. Common nematodes found include Pratylenchus crenatus, Xiphinema rivesi, Helicotylenchus spp., Hoplolaimus spp. Meloidogyne hapla, and Clarkus papillatus (predator). Population densities remained low for all plant parasites throughout the ten years of this experiment and few differences among compost treatments or crops were statistically significant. Laboratory experiments evaluated the mode of action of Neem products for suppression of Meloidogyne incognita in tomato. Results suggest that Neem reduces motility of nematodes, but is not directly toxic nor does it affect molting or development of nematodes, as it does in insects. The experiment is being repeated with a comparison of M. incognita versus M. hapla and with a comparison of Neem oil versus an azadiractin product (Molt-X). Objective 2 AL: PCR-DGGE fingerprinting analysis was applied to a peanut rotation cropping system to determine if the nematode community has an effect on plant health and yield. The rotations included: continuous Bahia, continuous peanut, peanut-corn, and peanut-cotton. Bands from each sample as well as common bands in all samples were excised from gels, re-amplified and sequenced. Sequences were compared to those present in GenBank using BLASTn and assigned to known species. Gels were photographed in order to analyze fingerprints from each sample. The images were analyzed with BioNumerics software using normalization and mathematical algorithms to calculate the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (r) from each sample. The results indicated that rotation sequences resulted in population shifts in crop rotations. Common bands were observed among the majority of samples irrespective of sampling period and cropping sequence. Sampling time also impacted nematode community structures. Free-living nematodes accounted for 64% of the recovered DNA sequences, although plant-parasitic nematodes, animal parasitic nematodes and entomopathogenic nematodes were present in lower percentages. Sequences that showed 97 - 100% maximum identity with those in the nucleotide collection of the GenBank database accounted for 41% of the recovered sequences. MN: A four-year field experiment was initiated in 2009 at two locations in southern Minnesota to study the effects of rotation with non-host crop and resistant soybean, and tillage on soil suppressiveness to the soybean cyst nematode (SCN). In 2010, we observed that the biocide formaldehyde treatment of soil in the field plots reduced the fungal parasitism of the SCN second-stage juveniles at planting and increased midseason SCN egg population density. Conventional tillage resulted in greater SCN population density in the midseason as compared with no-till. A field experiment was conducted in SCN-suppressive and conducive soils in 2009-2010 to study the effect of liquid swine manure and chemical fertilizers on SCN and other plant-parasitic nematodes, and crop yields. There was no effect of fertilizer on SCN egg density, but manure increased beneficial bacterial-feeding nematodes. The manure and PK application increased soybean yield in the nematode-conducive soil, but not in the nematode-suppressive soil. This study demonstrated that soil fertility management, especially with manure application, is an effective strategy to alleviate SCN damage. NY: Soil populations of plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes in the 72 plots (3 tillage x 3 cover crops x 2 crop rotations x 4 replicates) at the long-term soil health site were again sampled in 2010. Nematode populations did not differ among the tillage and the two crop rotations at this site. However, the total populations of plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes were higher in plots planted to vetch cover crop as compared to those planted to rye grain or the no cover crop (fallow) plots. PA: Anecdotal evidence suggested there may be a cause and effect relationship between field applications of humic acid, soil fertility and free-living nematode population levels. To test this hypothesis, experiments were established to evaluate the effect of humic acid on plant growth and nematode population levels in apple orchard soil, vineyard soil and in pasteurized and non-pasteurized soil in a greenhouse pot experiment. Data collected on plant growth measurements and nematode population levels have not yet been statistically analyzed. VT: A survey was conducted in Vermont to determine the frequency, abundance and distribution of nematodes associated with mixed vegetable production A total of 66 composite soil samples were collected from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) fields on 36 vegetable farms across Vermont in spring and fall. The farmer managing each field provided data including cropping history, pest management, and crop rotations. The survey revealed the presence of plant-parasitic nematodes: Pratylenchus, Meloidogyne, Paratylenchus, Criconemoides, Heterodera, Helicotylenchus and Hoplolaimus in Vermont vegetable fields. Among them, lesion nematode was encountered most frequently, with positive detection of 97% of the fields sampled. Half of vegetable fields were heavily infested by lesion nematodes at the end of the growing season. Objective 3 CT, NY, VT: The 10th and final Train-the-Trainer workshop on the diagnosis, on-farm assessment and management of plant-parasitic nematodes was held on November 19, 2009 in Portland, NY. These workshops were funded by NE-SARE program and were conducted in collaboration with Jim LaMondia (CT. Exp. Sta.), Debra Neher (Univ. of VT) and Beth Gugino (The Penn. State Univ.). A follow-up survey with all participants to assess the impact of the training provided with the 10 workshops conducted throughout the NE region over the duration of the project is in the last stages of completion. Milestones Accomplished (From 2010 List) " Cover and rotational crops and green manures appropriate for each states research efforts will be identified and screened against target nematodes. " Continue screening of vegetable germplasm (carrot, onion, pepper, tomato) for resistance to Meloidogyne spp, including M. hapla. " Brassica species and cultivars that differ in glucosinolate content and type will be grown, harvested and pressed to produce seed meals. " Vermont plant-parasitic nematodes on vegetable surveyed

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