Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Accomplishments: Objective 1: Develop effective and economically-viable cultural management tactics for plant-parasitic nematodes based on host resistance, nematode antagonistic rotation or cover crops, soil amendments and biological agents. Biological Control. - The genome of Paenibacillus sp. JDR-2, a xylanolytic spore-forming bacterium isolated from soil, has been fully sequenced and annotated. Based upon 16S rRNA sequence, the isolate is most closely related with the entomopathogenic species P. popilliae and P. lentimorbus, and Paenibacillus sp. SdTc and Paenibacillus nematophilus, respectively ectoparasites of the entomoparasitic nematodes, Steinernema diaprepes and Heterorhabditis spp. Based upon 16S rRNA sequence, these Paenibacillus species are in clades adjacent to Pasteuria species, suggesting derivation of both clades from a common progenitor during the evolution of spore-forming bacteria. It is likely that these bacteria play a role in soil health and agricultural productivity. Differences in immune defense systems in selected inbred lines of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora were discovered in two white grub species. Bacillus firmus was evaluated for Heterodera glycines control in three NE 1040 trials in 2011 and two in 2012. In 20 trials, 14 resulted in soybean bean yield increases ranging from 0.5 to 7 bu/acre. Greenhouse trials with Pasteuria sp. were also conducted in 2012 for control of H. schachtii. Host-Plant Resistance.  The use of resistant varieties for nematode control related to small acreage specialty crops is underutilized, making the NE-1040 breeding work exceptionally important. Commercial cucurbit rootstocks, cucurbit Plant Introductions, and African horned cucumber (Cucumis metulifer) germplasm lines were evaluated as rootstocks for grafted cantaloupe in a root-knot nematode infested field. Melon and squash hybrid rootstocks were highly susceptible to root-knot. The C. metulifer lines were resistant to root-knot and were highly compatible rootstocks for grafted cantaloup. Advanced sweetpotato breeding lines and seedlings from the USDA program were screened for resistance in efforts to develop root-knot nematode resistant sweetpotato varieties. Advanced pepper germplasm lines were screened for resistance to Meloidogyne incognita, and resistant plants were selected for use in a backcross breeding program to develop resistant lines of sweet banana, sweet cherry, and Cubanelle peppers. A plant health regulator protein (Harpin) was evaluated as a seed treatment for control of H. glycines in nine trials throughout six states. Bean yield increased from 0.5 to 8 bu/acre in six of the trials. When a PI 88788 derived H. glycines resistant variety was planted in 2012 in a field trial with a very aggressive HG Type 1 nematode population, bean yields only averaged 18 bu/acre, compared to 54 bu/acre with almost no nematode reproduction with this type of resistant variety at the same site in 2010 and 2011. Under these conditions, abamectin used as a nematicide seed treatment had no impact on soybean yield or H. glycines densities. When this seed treatment was evaluated in 2011 on PI 88788 varieties in twenty trials throughout 12 north central states and Ontario bean yields increased from 0.5 to 8 bu/acre in 17 of the trials. Nematode Suppressive Soil.- A four-year field experiment was initiated in 2009 at two locations to study the effects of cultivation and/or application of crop rotation/general biocides on soil suppressiveness to Heterodera glycines. Cultivation, application of biocides, and rotation to corn all reduced soil suppression. When soybean was rotated to corn, abundance of fungivorous nematodes increased. Nematode maturity and trophic diversity indices were positively correlated with H. glycines suppressive soils. Suppression of H glycines is more closely associated with fungi than bacteria. In this trial, natural suppression of H. glycines was associated with the microbial community fostered by a combination of no-till and soybean monoculture. The ecology of H. glycines nematode-supressive soil was studied in a four-year field experiment using five crop-biocide treatments. Soil suppressiveness to SCN was determined using a greenhouse bioassay of soil collected at midseason. Overall, treatment effects on nematode suppressiveness increased from 2009 to 2011. Formaldehyde increased H. glycines egg density in 2010 and 2011. In addition, fungicide treatment resulted in greater egg density than the no-biocide control and bactericide treatments in 2011, and there was no effect of streptomycin on egg density. Autoclaving increased the nematode population density. Mixing 10% of the non-treated soil with autoclaved soil resulted in lower H. glycines egg density compared with the autoclaved soil, confirming that the suppression of nematode population was biological and could be transferred. Of the fungi isolated, 72.3% were Hirsutella rhossiliensis, 11.9% H. minnesotensis, and 15.8% other species, suggesting that Hirsutella rhossiliensis was the most important fungus in suppressing the SCN population density at the site studied. Cover Crops-Biofuel Crops. - Nine cover crop systems: 1) rye grain +hairy vetch, 2) oat, 3) sudax, 4) forage radish, 5) red clover, 6) rapeseed, 7) buckwheat, 8) wheat, and 9) a weedy fallow control were evaluated in four fields having different management histories and different levels of pathogen pressure and soil quality in relation to changes in the densities of plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes. The cover crops impacted populations of plant-parasitic M. hapla and P. penetrans and total non-plant-parasitic nematodes. Lesion nematodes were highest in the system with frequent use of grain and forage crops to improve soil quality and lowest in the organic system, regardless of the cover crop. Nematode populations were influenced by cover crops: all of the grains and rapeseed reduced populations of root-knot; whereas, red clover, radish, and rye/vetch increased populations. All cover crops, however, increased lesion nematodes; especially sudax, oats, wheat, and rye/vetch as well as the weedy fallow treatment. Very little is known about the relationships between plant parasitic nematodes and native grasses grown on marginal soils with minimal inputs for biofuel production. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) cultivars as well as big blue stem (Andropogon gerardii), coastal panic grass (Panicum amarum), and orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) were planted in 2008 with or without dairy manure compost. Relatively little plant growth occurred until 2011. In the fall of 2011, there were no differences among the grasses in population densities of Xiphinema, Pratylenchus, or Mononchus. Compost had no significant effect on yields or nematode densities. Yields of grasses were negatively correlated (P = 0.02) with densities of Helicotylenchus spp. Soil Amendments- Foliar Treatments.  Two field sites, corn and soybean, were used in 2011 to study effects of swine manure, chemical fertilizer, and tillage on plant-parasitic nematodes, nematode community, and soybean/ corn yields. There were no effects of fertilizer or nematicide on egg densities of H. glycines 45 days after planting or at harvest for corn or soybean at both sites in 2011. Minimum tillage resulted in higher SCN egg density compared with conventional tillage at harvest at the soybean site and increased spiral nematodes at midseason. Bacteria-feeding nematodes were more abundant in manure and minimum tillage treatments than in the fertilizer or conventional tillage treatments. Laboratory experiments using vertically segregated three-layer soil microcosms were conducted to determine the mode of action of Neem products for suppression of Meloidogyne incognita to test the hypothesis that soil drenches with Neem affect nematode motility, host finding ability, and life cycle. Neem oil drenches reduce the motility of M. incognita, but neem is not directly toxic and does not affect molting or development of M. incognita, as is the mode of action in insects. Mustard seed meals were used individually and in combinations to determine phytotoxicity to tomato and suppressive effects on Meloidogyne. Tomato shoot growth was greatest when seedlings were transplanted at least 2 weeks after seed meal was added to soil and some mustard meals reduced the number root galls compared to the non-treated controls. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the efficacy of Avid, Azatin, Kontos, MeloCon, Neemix 4, NI-108X, Pylon, Safari, and Proclaim for control of Aphelenchoides fragariae associated with Anemone sylvestris. The lowest nematode numbers in foliage were observed in the Pylon, Neemix, Kontos drench and Avid treatments. The NI 108X biological and untreated controls had the highest populations. None of the treatments were completely free of infection after 2 to 3 months. Based on these trials, the plant protection materials evaluated will not stand-alone for foliar nematode management. A vegetable crop farming systems trial, 1999-2012 was used to evaluate transition methods for conversion from conventional to organic farming practices. It consisted of a high input, compost intensive management system versus a low-input system relying on green manures and cover crops. High input treatments received 10 tons/acre of composted dairy manure annually and were planted to one of four vegetable families in rotation: legumes, Solanaceae, cucurbits, and leafy vegetables. Soil samples were collected pre-plant 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 twelve years of this experiment and few differences among compost treatments or crops were statistically significant. Rotational Grazing.- A trial was concluded that compared grazing management practices for control of intestinal parasites (Haemonchus contortus) of sheep in organic farming systems. Rotational grazing, with or without supplemental protein nutrition were evaluated. Supplemental feed provided to ewes before lambing resulted in lambs with higher weight, and fecal egg counts were lower on some sampling dates. Newly-weaned lambs were dosed (or not) with Cydectin. Lambs were weighed at weaning and monthly thereafter. Final weights were 4 lb. greater in lambs receiving grain and 4 lb. greater in lambs treated with anthelminthics than controls, and effects were additive. Anthelminthics reduced fecal egg counts initially, but counts of dewormed lambs tended to rise over time, while fecal egg counts in lambs receiving only grain supplements tended to decline. Both grain supplementation and anthelminthics reduced effects of parasitism in lambs. Nematode Population-Symptom Dynamics Assessment.- Observation of nematode symptom development on roots in an X-ray-transparent medium was facilitated through non-destructive two-dimensional X-ray imaging of cotton and sunflower seedlings at Phenotype Screening, Inc., Knoxville, TN. Root systems were periodically and non-destructively X-rayed to observe root architecture, root growth and gall development. Gall enlargement was successfully observed over a 27-day period. Nematodes developed to the female stage on sunflower and produced egg masses after 30 days. Nematodes did not appear to be harmed by repeated X-rays; eggs obtained from X-rayed females hatched and developed normally on tomato. Sunflower roots infected with Rotylenchulus reniformis in the greenhouse were X-rayed. Egg masses were visible in the X-ray images as distinct hemispheres on the root with a darker ring around the egg mass base compared to the rest of the egg mass. This appearance was distinct from merging or dead root tips and from particles of soil and organic matter. This approach has great potential for studying nematode development and resistance, and the influence of root architecture on nematode parasitism. In addition, stereo X-ray imaging of cotton roots heavily laden with R. reniformis egg masses indicated a high potential for rapid counting of egg masses or attached endoparasitic nematodes. Little is known about how H. glycines increases to damaging levels when introduced into SCN-virgin land. In 2001, H. glycines was introduced into field plots under till and no-till with either corn, resistant soybeans, or susceptible soybeans, monocrop, or resistant soybeans/corn or susceptible soybeans/corn rotations. By 2003-2004, densities remained less than 1 cyst/100 cm3 of soil and reached a maximum of less than 10 cysts/100 cm3 in 2005 and 2006. Populations were highest in susceptible soybeans and lowest with corn or corn/resistant soybean. Soybean yield did not differ until 2007 when yield of SCN-infested plots was lower than non-infested plots. Nematode community structure was quantified in 2008 and 2009. H. glycines densities were correlated with total nematode abundance, total non-H. glycines, free-living nematode, and bacteria-feeding nematode abundance, suggesting that conditions favoring free-living nematodes can also favor H. glycines during the early years of infestation. The food web study also illustrated the possibility of indirect impacts of tillage and susceptible cultivar on increasing H. glycines populations through favoring free-living nematodes, while crop rotation is likely to have an indirect impact in decreasing SCN population through decreasing free-living nematodes. Knowing the nematode host status of common weeds is an essential component of next generation nematode management systems, especially in vegetable and floriculture production systems. In greenhouse and field trials Malva parviflora was shown to be a natural host of M. arenaria. Aeschynomene americana and P. oleracea roots supported all three species of Meloidogyne tested, and had the highest number of eggs/g root for Meloidogyne incognita, M. arenaria, and M. javanica despite observation that roots did not exhibit excessive galling. It is necessary to evaluate reproductive potential in order to assess the impact of this weed on root-knot nematode populations. Objective 2: Evaluate cultural management procedures for plant-parasitic nematodes in relation to their impacts on the sustainability of soil health: with special research to the utility of nematode community structure as an indicator of overall soil quality and their roles in plant nutrient cycling. Soil Health Management Practices The effects of rotation crops on root lesion nematodes and bean root rot were evaluated in in microplots. Rotation crops of fallow, hairy vetch, radish, Tifgrain 102 millet, Rangi rapeseed, Red Clover, LA 604 oats, buckwheat, and sorghosudangrass were planted and followed by beans from 2009 to 2012. In 2010, plots that had forage radish and Rangi rapeseed had the highest bean shoot and root weights and radish, then rapeseed, sorgho-sudan-grass and millet had the lowest root rot ratings. In 2011, forage radish and Rangi rapeseed again had the highest shoot, root and bean yield. Two years of Tifgrain 102 pearl millet also increased bean growth and yield. Root-knot nematodes were highest after red clover and tomato. Bean shoot weight, root weight and yield increased after cover cropping microplots with forage radish and Rangi rapeseed in all three years. In repeated measures analysis, there was a significant interaction of crop by year for root rot, as red clover decreased root rot rating in 2011 compared to 2010 and 2012. There were no effects of cover crop on seed damping-off. In 2010, Pratylenchus numbers were highest in bean after fallow, hairy vetch, oats and sorgho-sudan-grass. Lesion nematodes declined over time under fallow cover and increased under hairy vetch. Red clover was a host. Biochar, an engineered charcoal soil amendment that sequesters soil carbon and has been associated with increased plant growth and yield was evaluated for potential to reduce the bioavailability of cyst nematode specific hatch signaling compounds in soil. Full-strength or 1:10 and 1:100 tobacco plant or nightshade diffusates were percolated though pasteurized sandy loam soil or biochar or in subsequent experiments pasteurized sandy loam soil or soil amended with biochar at rates of 1% or 10% biochar by volume. Hatch of juveniles of Globodera tabacum from cysts exposed to diffusates leached through biochar was reduced compared to diffusates leached through non-amended pasteurized sandy loam soil. Both biochar amendments were effective in reducing juvenile hatch from full-strength root diffusate to levels similar to water alone or the 100-fold dilution of the root diffusate control, which were not different. Biochar may adsorb host-specific hatch signaling compounds, disrupting G. tabacum host recognition and subsequent hatch stimulation. Humic acid is a fundamental component of healthy soil and is linked to organic matter and biological activity. Soils supplied with exogenous humic acid showed an increase in free-living nematodes. The effects of humic acid applications on a commercial vineyard and commercial apple orchard had no differences in plant growth or numbers of plant-parasitic nematodes between treated and untreated plots in two seasons. However, the free-living nematode populations were 23% greater in the humic acid treated plots in the first year and 18% greater in the second year. These results suggest humic acid may stimulate microbial activity leading to an increase in bacterial and fungal feeding nematodes. Increased soil biological activity is considered an indicator of improved soil health and sustainable nutrient recycling. Nematode Community Structure Analysis.  Effects of two coal surface-mining reclamation approaches on nematode community recovery were evaluated. An old reclamation approach, based on the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), allowing for minimal soil replacement (mostly rock) and use of non-native plants for ground cover, was compared to a more recent approach, the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI), which requires better soil preparation and replanting with native plant species, including trees. Nematode communities in different-aged sites for each recovery method were compared to each other and to communities from adjacent intact forest. Nematode biodiversity increased with soil age, with forest soils having the highest biodiversity. Communities in ARRI sites reached forest nematode diversity levels much more quickly than those in SMCRA sites. Bacterial feeders were the dominant trophic group, suggesting high C:N ratios. Plectid diversity was higher in the oldest age soils for of both SMCRA and FRA. Nematode community structure analysis is being used as a guide for urban blight reclamation and decision-making in relation to urban agriculture development. Cultural Management. - Innovations in management intensive grazing (MIG) have allowed many small farms to become profitable by reducing feed, labor and energy costs. Concepts from MIG were incorporated into three season-extension practices (bedded pack, out-wintering, and stockpiling) that were monitored in permanent pastures on Vermont cow dairy farms. Nematode community bioindicators were one of three measures of soil quality. There was an inverse relationship between the maturity index (MI) of free-living nematodes and plant-parasites (PPI) for all three season-extension practices, suggesting enrichment of soils with nitrogen amendments and increased forage productivity. Application of extended season measures was mainly bacterially driven and decreased predators. The potato industry has identified soil health as a key limiting factor. Soil samples from 97 potato sites were collected in accordance with the Cornell University Soil Health Protocol. The sites were selected to represent potential high yield, potato early-die and potato scab fields. Pratylenchus penetrans and Verticillium dahliae data are also available for the sites included in the survey. It is widely recognized that the longer the crop rotation cycles the higher the yields. Plant parasitic nematodes continue to result in decline of turfgrass health in golf greens as evident by 212 composite soil samples assayed during the 2012 growing season; about half of the samples have damaging nematode populations. Cultural practices that increase roots 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. A late-season trial was established at three golf courses to determine the efficacy of chlorpyrifos against plant-parasitic nematodes. Results indicated that a single application of chlorpyrifos reduced stunt nematodes by 50%, however, 3-4 applications were required to affect lance nematode populations, and stunt nematode populations rebounded quickly in the summer without additional applications. Objective 3: Provide educational materials and programs on cultural management of plant-parasitic nematodes based on host resistance, nematode antagonistic rotation or cover crops, soil amendments and biological agents. Outreach activities were greatly expanded in 2012 on the destructive and damaging outbreak of the stem and bulb nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci) on garlic. Additional funding for this project was obtained from the Specialty Crop Program through the NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets and is used to subsidize the bloat nematode diagnostic and outreach on appropriate garlic and soil sampling protocols, interpretations of results obtained, and management options against this nematode for both organic and conventional garlic producers. Three workshops were held in 2012 on the biology, assessment and management of the bloat nematode as well as other various pest and production constraints of garlic. In addition, several field visits and discussions were held with garlic growers in collaboration with Cooperative Extension personnel. Bloat nematode infection continues to be detected in about 30% of the garlic samples submitted for diagnosis. Pocket field guides on Potato Nematodes and Soil Fumigant Reregistration Regulations were produced, widely distributed and used in potato grower education programs in 2012. Soybean seed treatment, resistant variety and HG Type information was presented at grower meetings and published in trade journals. Presentations on nematode community structure analysis, cover crops, role of nematodes in nutrient mineralization and nature of soil health were given at growers meetings throughout the region, nationally and internationally. A few of the additional outreach activities associated with NE 1040 in 2012 included: - The University of Arizona, Tucson, AR; The Cornell Soil Health Assessment Protocol and the Connections Between Soil Health and Root Health; March 1, 2012; one hour and 50 in attendance. INVITED - Garlic Growers School, Albany, NY; The bloat Nematode on garlic and management options; March 26, 2012; one hour with 65 in attendance. - Garlic Growers School, Geneva, NY (Jordan Hall, NYSAES); The bloat nematode and management options; March 27, 2012; one hour with 34 in attendance. - Garlic Growers School, Ithaca, NY (CCE Building); The bloat nematode and management options; March 28, 2012; one hour with 14 in attendance. - Oral presentations at Society of Nematologists 2012 - Kidane, E., Hu, W., Chen, S., and Neher, D.A. Ecology of soils suppressive to the soybean cyst nematode: I. Effect of tillage and crop-biocide treatments on soil suppressiveness to nematode and soybean yield. - Kidane, E., Hu, W., Chen, S., and Neher, D.A. Ecology of soils suppressive to the soybean cyst nematode: II. Effect of tillage and crop-biocide treatments on nematophagous fungi. - Nishanthan, T., Neher, D.A., and Chen, S. Ecology of soils suppressive to the soybean cyst nematode: III. Association of nematode and microbial communities with soil suppressiveness. - Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont Neher, D.A. General Soil Science for Beginning Farmers, Burlington, Vermont, 11 February 2012. - Neher, D.A. Biological Indicators of Soil Health, Burlington, Vermont, 11 February 2012. - Vermont Organic Recycling Summit Neher, D.A., Crafting compost to manage plant pathogens and weed seeds, Vermont Technical College, Randolph, Vermont, 29 March 2012 - George Abawi of Cornell-Geneva and Jim LaMondia of CAES with Beth Gugino of Penn State University conducted a day-long SARE-funded workshop on the identification, assessment and management of soilborne plant pathogens in vegetable systems held in Allentown PA (30 people, March 20) and in Saratoga NY (13 people, March 22, 2012). - Invited plenary presentations at international meetings 2012 Neher, D.A. Carbon currency: Soil pathogens, sequestration, and defense. Invited keynote symposium speaker at the Plant Protection Research Institute, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 11-13 September 2012. Milestones Accomplished 2010-2011 All of the 2010-2011 NE 1040 Milestones were accomplished with the following two exceptions: " Continue screening of vegetable germplasm (carrot, onion, pepper, tomato) for resistance to Meloidogyne spp., including M. hapla and lesion nematodes, principally P. penetrans. " Meloidogyne hapla-resistant pepper will be supplied to cooperators and tested against nematode populations in CT, NY and PA. The request for the Material Transfer Agreement to USDA/ARS has been made and the three NE states await approval so that these Milestones can be accomplished. It is anticipated the first one will be achieved in 2013 and the second in 2014. 2012 The following six 2012 NE 1040 Milestones were accomplished. " Evaluate the effects of identified non-host or antagonistic rotation crops against nematodes under field conditions. " Brassica seed meals will be evaluated against lesion, root-knot and dagger nematodes using bioassays developed. " Evaluation of bentgrass varietal resistance to plant-parasitic nematodes. " Characterize microbial enzyme products and free-living nematode community associated with increased level of soil suppressiveness to Heterodera glycines. " Field evaluation of identified nematode-resistant vegetable cultivars. " Continuation of outreach activities on nematode damage and management needs. The fate of the following NE 1040 2012 Milestone currently rests in the hands of corporate America. " Develop lines of Pasteuria spp. with enhanced virulence toward specific RKN and lesion nematodes. Since approval of NE 1040 in 2009, the venture capital company, Pasteuria BioScience, has focused on H. glycines and H. schachtii and not on M. hapla or P. penetrans. Pasteuria BioSience was recently purchased by Syngenta. Both the current culturing technology and developed lines are proprietary. Hopefully, well before the end of NE 1040 in 2016, the members of the Technical Committee will be able to provide Syngenta with lines of Pasteuria spp. appropriate of development as biological control agents for M. hapla and P. penetrans.

Publications: Abawi, G. S., K. Moktan, C. Stewart, R. Hadad, and C. Hoepting. 2012. Current status of the bloat nematode on garlic in New York. Journal of Nematology (in-press), Poster presented at the SON Annual Meeting held in Savannah, GA during August 12  15, 2012. Abawi, G. S. and K. Moktan. 2012. Vegetable disease control and the impact of soil health management practices. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo, Syracuse, NY; 3 pp. Bakelaar, J.E., Neher, D.A., and Gilker, R. 2012. Effects of season extension pasture management in Vermont. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems (submitted) Bird, G. W. and L. Wernette. 2011. Potato Nematodes: A Farm Guide to Nematode Diagnostics and Management. Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. 24 pp. Blaine, T. W.., C. S. Robins and P. S. Grewal. 2012. Homeowner attitudes and practices toward residential landscape management. Environ. Manag. 50:257-271. Cheng Z., Mennan, S., Grewal, P.S., and Melakeberhan, H. (2012). Effects of long-term tillage and rotation the relationship between Heterodera glycines and soil nematode community. 51st Annual Meeting of the Society of Nematologists Meeting, Savannah, Georgia, 47. Chow, V., G. Nong, F.J. St. John, J.D. Rice, E. Dickstein, O. Chertkov, D. Bruce, C. Detter, T. Brettin, J. Han, T. Woyke, S. Pitluck, M. Nolan, A. Pati, J. Martin, A. Copeland, M. Land, L. Goodwin, J.B. Jones, L.O. Ingram, K.T. Shanmugam, and J.F. Preston. 2012. Complete genome sequence of Paenibacillus sp. strain JDR-2. Stand. Genomic Sci.6:1-10. Donald, P.A., R. Heinz, E. Bernard, D. Hershman, D. Hensley, S. Flint-Garcia, and R. Joost. 2012. Distribution, host status and potential sources of resistance to Vittatidera zeaphila. Nematropica 42:91-95. Douches, D. S., J. Coombs, K. Felcher, W. W. Kirk and G. W. Bird. 2010. Missaukee: A round white potato variety combining chip-processing with resistance to late blight, Verticillium wilt and golden cyst nematode. Amer. J. Potato Res.87:10-18. Elmer, W. H., J. A. LaMondia, and F. L. Caruso. 2012. Association between Fusarium. spp. on Spartina alterniflora and dieback sites in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Estuaries and Coasts. 35: http://www.springerlink.com/content/513j718224020n15/ Gekara, J., Basweti, E., Kotcon, J.*, Minch, M., Eddy, J., Mata, D. & Bryan, W. 2011. Effect of protein supplementation of ewes and grazing management on performance of organic lambs. In: Neuhoff, D., S.M. Sang, C. Ssekyewa, N. Halberg, I. Rasmussen & J. Hermanson, (eds.) Organic Is Life-Knowledge for Tomorrow. Proceedings of the Third Scientific Conference of the International Society for Organic Agriculture Research, Namnangju, Republic of Korea. ISOFAR, University of Bonn, Germany. Grewal, S. S. and P. S. Grewal. 2012. Can cites become self-reliant in food? Cities 29:1-11. Grewal, P. S. 2012. Entomopathogenic nematodes as tools in integrated pest management. In: Integrated Pest Management: Principles and Practice (D. P. Abrol, Ed.), CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK, 162-236. Grewal, P. S. 2012. From IPM to ecosystem management: the case of urban lawn. In: Integrated Pest Management: Principles and Practice (D. P. Abrol, Ed.), CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK, 450-488. Guan, W., Zhao, X., Hassell, R., and Thies, J. 2012. Defense mechanisms involved in disease resistance of grafted vegetables. HortScience 47(2):164-170. 2012. Halbrendt, J.M. 2012. Evaluating the benefits of humates in fruit production - further research. Pennsylvania Fruit News Vol. 92:1; pp. 18-21 Kokalis-Burelle, N., Rosskopf, E.N., and Holzinger, J. 2012. First report of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne arenaria on cheeseweed mallow (Malva parviflora) in the United States. Plant Disease 96(2): 296.3 Kokalis-Burelle, N., and Rosskopf, E.N. 2012. Susceptibility of several common subtropical weeds to Meloidogyne arenaria, M. incognita, and M. javanica. Journal of Nematology 44(2):142-147. LaMondia, J. A. 2012. Biochar inhibits host recognition by Globodera tabacum. Journal of Nematology in press. LaMondia, J. A. 2012. Management of foliar nematodes, Aphelenchoides fragariae, in ornamentals. Phytopathology in press. Levi, A., Thies, J., Wechter, W., Harrison, H., Simmons, A., Reddy, U., Nimmakayala, P., and Fei, Z. 2012. High frequency oligonucleotides - targeting active gene (HFO-TAG) markers reveal wide genetic diversity among Citrullus spp. accessions useful for enhancing disease or pest resistance in watermelon cultivars. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9845-3. Melakeberhan, H., Douches, D. and Wang, W. (2012). Interactions of selected potato cultivars and populations of Meloidogyne hapla adapted to the US Midwest soils. Crop Science, 52:1-6. Melakeberhan, H. and Wang, W. (2012). Suitability of celery cultivars to populations of Meloidogyne hapla. Nematology, 14:623-629. Melakeberhan, H. and Wang, W. (2012). Proof-of-concept for managing Meloidogyne hapla parasitic variability in carrot production soils. Nematology, 14:623-629. Melakeberhan, H., Kravchenko, A., and Thelen, K. (2012). Effects of Agronomic practices on the establishment of Heterodera glycines in virgin land. 51st Annual Meeting of the Society of Nematologists Meeting, Savannah, Georgia, 79. Meyer, S.L.F., Zasada, I.A., Orisajo, S.B., Morra, M.J. 2011. Mustard seed meal mixtures: management of Meloidogyne incognita on pepper and potential phytotoxicity. Journal of Nematology 43(1):7-15. Neher, D.A., Weicht, T.R., and Barbercheck, M.E. 2012. Linking invertebrate communities to decomposition rate and nitrogen availability in pine forest soils. Applied Soil Ecology 54: 14-23. Pajovic, I. G. Bird, S. Sirca, G. Urek, D. Rajkovic, L. Barsi and M Radivojevic. 2010. Meloidogyne (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) detected in greenhouses in Zeta-Bjelopavlici Valley. Natura Montenegrina, Pdogorica 9:913-925. Pokharel, R. R., G. S. Abawi, and J. M. Duxbury. 2011. Greenhouse evaluation of rice and wheat germplasms for resistance to Meloidogyne graminicola with comments on evaluation indices and proposal of a new one. Nematologia Mediterranea 39: 157  168. Schumacher-Lott, Lesley. 2011. Bionomics of Heterodera glycines and Pratylenchus penetrans associated with Michigan Soybean Production. M.S. Thesis. Department of Entomology. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing. 92 pp. Tiffany L. Fess, James B. Kotcon and Vagner A. Benedito. 2011. Crop Breeding for Low Input Agriculture: A Sustainable Response to Feed a Growing World Population. Sustainability 3:1742-1772. Voss, A. T., M. Jagdale, G. B. Grewal and P. S. Grewal. 2012. Differences of immune defence in selected inbred lines of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora in two white grub species. Wernette, Loren. 2011. Potato Nematode Research: With Special Reference to Potato-Early Die, Corky Ringspot and Soil Enzymes. M.S. Thesis. Department of Entomology. 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