Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: A total of 10 training workshops dealing with the diagnosis, on-farm assessment, and management of plant-parasitic nematodes on vegetable and small fruits were conducted throughout the northeast region in collaboration with Jim LaMondia (CT Exp. Sta.), Debra Neher (Univ. of VT), and Beth Gugino (Pennsylvania State Univ.). These hands-on workshops were highly valued by the participants, with several of them are now conducting their own Nematology outreach activities utilizing the information and training materials provided in the workshops. A Large number of varieties of cover and rotational crops were evaluated for their efficiencies as hosts and also as incorporated green manures to the lesion (Pratylenchus penetrans) and northern root-knot (Meloidogyne hapla) nematodes in greenhouse or field tests. Ryegrass cv. ,Pennant, marigold cv. Nema-Gone and Polynema, forage pearl millet cv. CFPM101 were among the best in reducing population of the lesion nematodes, whereas all grain crops were non-hosts to the northern root-knot nematodes. Green manures of sudangrass cv. Trudan 8 and varieties of several cruciferous crops and marigolds were effective in reducing populations of both the lesion and northern root-knot nematodes. Soil bioassays with lettuce and soybean were found to be effective in assessing the need for control of the northern root-knot and lesion nematodes, respectively. The effectiveness of these bioassays was validated and compared to direct extraction and counting of nematodes from soil in commercial onion, carrot, potatoes and other vegetable fields. The results of the bioassays were highly reproducible and promising in managing these nematodes on as needed basis, thus reducing the cost of production and increasing profitability. Treating seeds of carrots, onion, and tomato with Avicta (a seed treatment nematicides of Syngenta) resulted in fewer number of juveniles penetrating roots, lower root-galling severity ratings and lower number of eggs of M. hapla produced per gram roots. Avicta seed treatment was also effective in reducing the number of lesion nematodes in onion roots. Research on the impact of soil health management practices on nematode population dynamics at the long-term soil health site established at the Gates farm near Geneva is on-going. Highest populations of free-living nematodes were found in the no-till and the vetch cover crop plots. However, the population of lesion nematode remains rather low, thus the trend of population changes is still not clear and variable. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The lesion and northern root-knot nematodes are major pathogens of vegetable crops grow in New York State and the northeast region. The 10 training workshops provided throughout the NE region have increased awareness in diagnosing nematode damage, conducting on-farm soil infestation assessments, and increased knowledge on options available for nematode management. The visual soil bioassays for assessing nematode infestation will contribute to the implementation of IPM programs and the management of nematodes on as needed basis. The latter will undoubtedly contribute to reducing crop losses and will improve farm profitability. Information gained on the host status of cover and rotational crops to major nematodes of agronomic crops is critical in designing crop rotations that will prevent the build-up of these nematodes to damaging levels. Demonstrating the efficacy of available control products and the impact of various soil health management practices on nematode populations and damage will contribute to the development of sustainable and biologically-based nematode control programs.
Publications
- Abawi, G. S., B. K. Gugino, J. A. LaMondia, and D. A. Neher. 2009. Train-The-Trainer workshops as a platform for extending nematological outreach in the northeast region of the U.S. Society of Nematologists and Soil Ecology Society meeting, Burlington, VT; 07/12/2009 to 7/15/2009. Program page 59 (Abstr.).
- Abawi, G. S., J. W. Ludwig, and B. K. Gugino. 2009. Nematode research update and management practices. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Proceedings, Cornell Coop. Extension, pp. 54 - 57.
- Abawi, G. S., J. W. Ludwig, and B. K. Gugino. 2009. Results of the long-term tillage, rotation, and cover crop trial at the Gates Farm. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Proceedings, Cornell Coop. Extension,pp. 128-130.
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Six hands-on training workshops dealing with the diagnosis, on-farm assessment, and management of plant-parasitic nematodes on vegetable and small fruits were conducted in 2008 in collaboration with Jim LaMondia, CT; Debra Neher, VT; and Beth Gugino, PA. The workshops were held in Hershey, PA; Batavia, NY; Fairlee, VT; Newport, RI; Westhampton, NJ; and Allentown, PA. These workshops are contributing to promoting IPM principals and the management of nematodes on as needed basis. A total of 13 clover varieties were evaluated for their reaction to the lesion nematode (Pratylenchus penetrans) and found equally susceptible, although differed slightly in their efficiencies as hosts to this nematode. Cover crops grown in soils infested with the lesion nematode (P. penetrans) and then incorporated as green manure had a significant effect on the number of nematodes in roots of the subsequent bean crop. Highest numbers of lesion nematodes were found in roots of beans grown after a cover crop of hairy vetch and clover, followed next by rye grain, whereas the lowest numbers were found in roots of beans after marigold and forage pearl millet as well as the fallow (check) treatment. Soil bioassay with lettuce was found to be more sensitive in assessing the need for control of the root-knot nematode in 11 randomly selected onion fields as compared to direct extraction and counting of juveniles from soil. The results of the bioassay and the direct extraction suggested the need for controlling this nematode in 6 and 3 fields, respectively. Soil health management practices are affecting nematode population dynamics at the long-term soil health site established at the Gates farm near Geneva. Highest populations of free-living nematodes were found in the no-till, vetch cover crop and rotation 2 (less frequency of vegetables and one year in soil quality building corps) plots. The population of lesion nematode remain rather low, thus the trend of population changes is still not clear and variable. However, lesion nematode populations were lowest in the conventional tillage plots and highest in the vetch plots. PARTICIPANTS: J. W. Ludwig (Res. Assistant, PL Path., Geneva) and B. K. Gugino (Postdoctoral Fellow, PL Path., Geneva) TARGET AUDIENCES: Vegetable growers, Extension educators, crop protection consultants, and other agricultural service providers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The Nematology outreach provided throughout the NE region in the form of hands-on training workshops has increased awareness in diagnosing nematode damage, conducting on-farm assessments and knowledge of what options available for nematode management. The latter will undoubtedly contribute to the management of nematode on as needed basis and will improve farm profitability. Similarly, information gained on the efficacy of available control products and the effect of various rotation and cover crops on nematode populations will aid in the development of sustainable and effective IPM program against nematodes. In addition, elucidating the impact of soil health management practices on the diversity and activities of plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes will potentially lead to the use of nematodes as a biological indicators of soil health status as well as integrating management of plant-parasitic nematodes with overall sustainable soil health management strategy.
Publications
- Gugino, B. K., Ludwig, J. W., and Abawi, G. S. 2008. An on-farm bioassay for assessing Meloidogyne hapla infestations as a decision management tool. Crop Protection 27: 785-791.
- Abawi, G. S., Gugino, B. K., and Ludwig, J. W. 2008. Cropping sequence and root health. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Proceedings, Cornell Coop. Extension, pp. 65-68.
- Gugino, B. K., and Abawi, G. S. 2008. Assessing fungal and nematode root pathogens with visual on-farm soil bioassays. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Proceedings, Cornell Coop. Extension, pp. 68-71.
- Abawi, G. S., Ludwig, J. W., and Gugino, B. K. 2008. Diagnosis, biology, and management of root knot and lesion nematodes on potato. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Proceedings., Cornell Coop. Extension, pp. 18-20.
- Gugino, B. K., Abawi, G. S., LaMondia, L. A., and Neher, D. A. 2008. Train-the-trainer workshops as a platform for disseminating applied nematological research to vegetable and small fruit stakeholders in the Northeast. Phytopathology (Suppl.) 98: 63
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
Conducted 2 out of 13 scheduled regional train-the-trainer workshops on the diagnosis, field assessment and management of plant-parasitic nematodes in collaboration with Jim LaMondia, CT and Debra Neher, VT. The trainings will contribute to the management of nematodes on a whole farm and on as needed basis, thus promoting IPM principals. Eighteen cover crops were evaluated for their effect on soil population of lesion nematode (Pratylenchus penetrans). Lowest population was found after canola cv. Hyola 440, as determine by soil bioassay with beans. Promising results were again obtained with the biological seed treatment nematicides, AVICTA. Penetration of juveniles of M. hapla into tomato roots was reduced for at least 4 weeks after planting by the seed treatment with AVICTA. However, planting AVICTA-treated seeds in plugs first was not effective in reducing root-galling severity and reproduction of M. hapla when the plugs were transplanted into heavily infested soil.
AVICTA-treated onion seeds reduced the number of P. penetrans in roots for upto 4 weeks after planting. High population of the spiral nematode (Helicotylenchus sp.) was recovered from soil of an onion field. The nematode was also extracted from onion roots. The research on the impact of soil health management practices was continued in 2007. At the long-term soil health site near Geneva, plots cropped to vetch as a cover crop in 2005 and 2006 had the highest number of free-living nematode populations. However, no differences were found in the population of plant-parasitic nematodes (principally, M. hapla and P. penetrans) among the three cover crop treatments. The large number of samples processed for determining their soil health status suggested that the populations of lesion nematode is increasing, probably due to the increased use of grain crops to improve soil health parameters.
Impacts
The collaborative train-the-trainer workshops on the diagnosis, field assessment, and management of plant-parasitic nematodes being conducted throughout the NE region will contribute to the management of nematodes on as needed basis, thus promoting IPM principals and reducing the use of chemical nematicides. Testing and demonstrating the efficacy of biological control products will provide alternatives to chemical nematode control options. Also, assessing the impact of sustainable soil health management practices on nematodes densities and damage will contribute to the needed integration of nematode control as a component of overall soil management strategy on a whole farm basis.
Publications
- Gugino, B.K, Abawi, G.S. and Ludwig, J.W. 2007. Development of on-farm protocols for assessing soil nematode infestation levels in vegetable fields and making the appropriate management decisions. NYS IPM Publication #131: 16-23.
- Abawi, G.S., Gugino, B.K., van Es, H., Thies, J., Idowu, J., Schindelbeck, R., Wolfe, D., MacNeil, C. and Petzoldt, C. 2007. An illustrated manual on soil health assessment protocols and management options for training and outreach. NYS IPM Publication #131: 36-39.
- Gugino, B.K. and Abawi, G.S. 2007. Impact of soil health management on soilborne diseases and nematodes. Phytopathology (Suppl.) 97: S141-142 (Abstr.).
- Pokharel, R.R., Abawi, G.S., Zhang, N., Duxbury, J.M. and Smart, C.D. 2007. Characterization of isolate of Meloidogyne from rice-wheat production fields in Nepal. J. of Nematology 39: 221-230.
- Gugino, B.K., Idowu, O.J., Schindelbeck, R.R., van Es, H.M., Thies, J.E. and Abawi, G.S. 2007. Cornell Soil Health Assessment Training Manual, Edition 1.1, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456. pp. 52.
- Gugino, B.K., Abawi, G.S. and Ludwig, J.W. 2007. Update on carrot diseases and management recommendations, 2006. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Proceedings, Cornell Coop. Extension, pp. 161-163.
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Three participatory training sessions were held around the state for interested growers and agriculture service providers in identifying nematode damage symptoms and in conducting visual bioassays with lettuce and soybean for determining soil infestation with root-knot and lesion nematodes, respectively. In 2006, the soil infestation levels of the root-knot and lesion nematodes were also assessed in 11 suspect vegetable fields using the developed and promoted soil bioassays in 2006. The results obtained suggested that only 7 of the 11 sampled fields required nematode management before being planted to a susceptible host. In a field microplot test also conducted in 2006, the number of the diagnostic lesions observed on soybean (SG1405RR) roots was increased as the soil infestation (Pi) with P. penetrans was increased from 0 to 8 nematodes per cm3 soil. Vydate applied as a soil spray and incorporated at planting greatly reduced soil population of P. penetrans and also
the number of lesions observed on bioassay soybean roots. Results from an on-going crop rotation test on three farms showed that one-year rotation with field corn reduced the population of the root-knot nematode below the established damage level for carrots and onion. However, one-year rotation with dry bean only slightly reduced the population of the root-knot nematode, whereas carrot after carrot rotation did not. In the long-term soil health site near Geneva, NY; total population of plant parasitic nematodes was highest in the plots not planted with a fall cover crop, but these plots became weedy in the spring and summer of 2006 in comparison to those planted with a vetch or rye grain cover crops in fall of 2005. It was noted that the population of free-living nematodes were highest in plots planted with rye grain as compared to the other two cover crop treatments.
Impacts
The root-knot and lesion nematodes are important pathogens of vegetables including onions, carrots, lettuce and potatoes especially on organic soils in New York. Growers continue to rely heavily on the use of chemical nematicides for controlling these nematodes. Thus, an understanding of how-to conduct simple, visual soil bioassays to assess nematode infestations by growers and consultants will contribute to the implementation of nematode IPM programs that will enable the appropriate management decisions to be made on an as-needed basis. The latter will contribute to reducing production costs and increasing farm profitability and sustainability. Elucidating the role of sustainable soil management practices and demonstrating the efficacy of available control products against nematodes will also contribute to the development of sustainable and biologically-based nematode control programs and further add to the IPM toolbox.
Publications
- Pokharel, R.R., G.S. Abawi, J.M. Duxbury, J. Brito, and C.D. Smart. 2006. Variability of isolates of Meloidogyne graminicola obtained from diverse geographic regions. Phytopathology 96 (Suppl.): 182 (Abstr.).
- Abawi, G.S., B.K. Gugino, and J.W. Ludwig. 2006. Visual assessment of nematode infestations and management options. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Proceedings, Cornell Coop. Ext., pp. 158 - 160.
- Abawi, G.S., J.W. Ludwig, and B.K. Gugino. 2006. Reproduction of Meloidogyne hapla on potato cultivars and its management with soil and foliar Vydate applications. Phytopathology 96 (Suppl.): 176 (Abstr.).
- Gugino, B.K., G.S. Abawi, and J.W. Ludwig. 2005. Damage and management of the northern root-knot nematode on carrots in New York. Phytoprotection 86(2):138.
- Gugino, B.K., G.S. Abawi, and J.W. Ludwig. 2006. Bioassay hosts for visual assessment of soil infestations with Pratylenchus penetrans. Phytopathology 96 (Suppl.): 44 (Abstr.).
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
A large number of root-knot nematode isolates were characterized as to larval measurements, perineal patterns, ITS region amplification and sequencing, and virulence on selected varieties of rice and wheat. Results obtained confirmed that all these isolates of Meloidogyne were M. graminicola, but with considerable morphometric, pathogenic and genotypic variability. Only 1 out of 135 rice and 1 out of 65 wheat germplasm lines evaluated exhibited resistance to M. graminicola. Training of interested growers and additional evaluations of the developed soil bioassay to determine infestation of the root-knot nematode and the need for control were continued in 2005. Only 6 out of 14 fields sampled in spring 2005 required a control strategy (rotation or nematicide use) as suggested by the results of the greenhouse soil bioassay with lettuce. A brochure describing the bioassay was prepared and handed out at numerous field days and growers meetings. Over 500 samples collected
in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary Soil Health Program Work Team at Cornell were processed for assessing the densities of plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes. The percentage of plant-parasitic nematodes among the fields sampled ranged from 0 to 39 percent and 2 to 21 percent in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Significant differences in the plant-parasitic nematode populations were observed between soils under different management practices such as higher proportions of plant-parasitic nematodes in no-till vs. conventionally tilled fields. However, plant-parasitic and free-living nematode populations varied greatly within and between fields, thus making generalized conclusions difficult. A number of control products including Basamid, Fosthiazate, Vydate, Actigard were found effective in reducing root-knot and/or lesion nematode on onion, strawberry, or potato in 2005. However, there was no clear evidence for improved yield that might have been influenced by the extreme
dry and hot weather that prevailed during the growing season.
Impacts
Visual bioassays to assess nematode infestations by growers and consultants will contribute to the implementation of IPM programs and the appropriate decisions in the management of plant-parasitic nematodes on an as needed basis. Demonstrations of the effectiveness of various control products against nematodes are needed for the development and implementation of biologically-based nematode control options. Information on the role of promoted sustainable soil management practices on plant-parasitic and free-living nematode communities will contribute to the development of soil management practices that are also suppressive to plant-parasitic nematodes and their damage.
Publications
- Gugino, B.K., J.W. Ludwig, and G.S. Abawi. 2005. Root health and pathogenic/ beneficial nematodes as indicators of soil health. Proceedings, Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo, Cornell Coop. Ext., pp 161-163.
- Pokharel, R. R., G. S. Abawi, J. M. Duxbury, and C. D. Smart. 2005. Reproductive fitness of isolates of Meloidogyne graminicola from Nepal on selected rice and wheat varieties. J. of Nematology 37: 388 (Abstr.).
- Abawi, G.S., J.W. Ludwig, and B.K. Gugino. 2005. Visual assessment of root-knot nematode infestations of vegetable soils and determining the need for control. J. of Nematology 37: 354 (Abstr.).
- Abawi, G.S., Mullin, B. A. and Mai, W. F. 2005. Diseases caused by nematodes. PP 52-57. In Compendium of Bean Diseases: Second edition, H.F. Schwartz, J.R. Steadman, R. Hall, and R.L. Foster, editors, APS Press, St. Paul, MN. 109 p.
- Abawi, G.S., and J.W. Ludwig. 2005. Nematodes on onions: New control products and soil bioassays. Proceedings, Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo, Cornell Coop. Ext., pp 107-110.
- Gugino, B.K., G.S. Abawi, and J.W. Ludwig. 2005. Update on leaf blight and root-knot nematode diseases of carrots and their management. Proceedings, Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo, Cornell Coop. Ext., pp 115-117.
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