THE GOLDEN NEMATODE HANDBOOK Survey, Laboratory, Control, and Quarantine Procedures
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THE GOLDEN NEMATODE HANDBOOK Survey, Laboratory, Control, and Quarantine Procedures By Joseph F. Spears, Assistant Director, Plant Pest Control Division, Agricultural Research Service 066/ / / Mr Í I S'f) Agriculture Handbook No. 353 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Research Service Washington, D.C. Issued September 1968 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402—Price $1.25 FOREWORD The history of nematology in the United States is characterized by its rapid growth and by general recognition by growers, industry, and agricultural workers of the importance of nematodes in limiting crop production. The first regulatory activity against nematodes was in 1926 when the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine imposed regulations against the bulb and stem nematode. Today, several hun- dred Federal and State people are engaged in regulatory nematology and are spending about $4.5 million a year on surveys, enforcement of quarantine reg- ulations, and the application of nematocides. Before World War II, about 35 people were engaged in nematological re- search, and the annual appropriation was less than $150,000. Today, at least 175 persons are working full or part-time on nematological research, and the annual expenditure is about $4 million. The discovery of the nematocidal properties of dichloropropene-dichloropro- pane in 1943 marked the beginning of the present soil fumigation industry. For the first time farmers and nurseryraen had a practical and economical means of controlling nematodes. About the time of this discovery the golden nematode was found on Long Island (1941). Although a handful of nematolo- gists in the United States had been working on the nematode problem for a number of years, the discovery of the golden nematode brought the problem forcibly to public attention. In 1953, nematologists discovered that the burrowing nematode, Radoyholus similis, caused spreading decline of citrus, and in 1954, they discovered that the soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines, was causing economic losses to soybeans. After the discoveries in 1941, 1953, and 1954, survey, regulatory, and con- trol programs were initiated and special methods were developed for' large- scale control programs. Regulatory measures and the laboratory and field techniques used to carry out the program against the golden nematode are described in this hand- book. Most of the methods are suitable for use on a large scale and are appli- cable to most other cyst nematodes. No other publication includes such a com- prehensive treatment of a nematode control program. The information will be valuable not only to those conducting regulatory and control programs in- volving the golden nematode, but also to agricultural administrators, plant protection oflScials, and students in many other areas of agriculture. Joseph F. Spears is well qualified to write this handbook. He was one of the organizers of the program. He pioneered in the development of many of the program operations and has been associated with the work in some capacity for more than 20 years. He initiated the present chemical control program. In addition, he has had broad experience with large-scale plant protection pro- grams involving other nematodes and other organisms, such as insects and fungi. William F. Mai, Ph.D. Professor Department of Plant Pathology Cornell University Ithaca, New York 111 Trade names are used in this publication solely to provide specific information. Mention of a trade name does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or an endorsement by the Department over other products not mentioned. IV PREFACE This handbook has been prepared to meet the needs of agricultural workers interested in the protection of crops from nematode outbreaks. Most of the procedures set forth in this handbook are the outgrowth of research conduct- ed by the New York State College of Agriculture, Cornell University, and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These methods and procedures have been successfully used for sev- eral years. Through the efforts of the scientists working on this problem these methods are constantly being improved. Many people have contributed in various ways to make this handbook pos- sible. The author is sincerely grateful to all of them. Special acknowledgment is made to personnel of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets; the Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University; the Nema- tology Section of the Crops Research Division and the Plant Pest Control Di- vision, ARS, USDA ; and the Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA. CONTENTS Page Page Introduction World distribution of the golden History and origin of the golden nematode 55 nematode 2 Algeria 55 Origin 2 Argentina 56 Discovery in the United States 3 Austria 56 The Genus Heterodera 4 Belgium 58 Key to the mature cysts of the Bolivia 58 more common species of Canada 59 Heterodera 4 Canary Islands 59 Type host plants 7 Chile 59 Czechoslovakia 61 Biology 8 Denmark 61 Life history __-: 8 10 England and Wales 63 Symptoms of infestation Faeroe Islands 63 Host plants 10 Finland 64 Rate of population increase 11 France 64 The potato and tomato industries -_- 12 Germany (East) 64 The potato industry 14 Germany (West) 65 The tomato industry 14 Greece 66 Control of the golden nematode in the Guernsey 66 United States 14 Iceland 66 Research and methods 15 India 66 Survey results 15 Ireland 67 Survey procedures 19 Israel 68 Survey crew 19 Italy 68 Equipment 19 Jersey 68 Field soil sampling 19 Luxembourg 69 Plant-root examination 21 Netherlands 69 Labeling and recording 21 Northern Ireland 69 Sanitation 22 Norway 71 Laboratory procedures 24 Panama 71 Soil processing 25 Peru 72 Examination of soil samples 26 Poland 72 Checking specimens for viability 26 Portugal 72 Regulatory 30 Saarland 73 The golden nematode act 32 Scotland 73 Quarantine 32 Spain 74 Approved regulatory treatments ^ 34 Sweden 74 Compensation 35 Switzerland 75 Chemical control 36 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 75 Chemicals to be used 37 United States 75 Equipment needed 37 Yugoslavia 75 Calibration of fumigant meter- Literature cited 77 ing systems 40 Appendix I—World potato production 79 Field operations for shank in- Appendix II—Intensity of infestation _ 80 jection equipment 42 Appendix III—Soil sampling for Decontamination of equipment _ 48 potato root eelworm 81 Precautions 43 The United Kingdom method 81 Resistant potato varieties 45 The Dutch method 81 The international problem of control _ 49 Comparison of the two methods 81 VI THE GOLDEN NEMATODE HANDBOOK Survey, Laboratory, Control, and Quarantine Procedures By Joseph F. Spears, Assistant Director, Plant Pest Control Division, Agricultural Research Service INTRODUCTION The golden nematode is undoubtedly the most The buildup may require 5 to 7 years or more serious pest threatening the American potato after introduction of the pest into a field before industry. It is recognized throughout the tem- noticeable crop injury and reduction in yields perate regions of the world as one of the most occur. However, buildup of nematode popula- difficult of all crop pests to control. It also at- tion increases like compound interest until the tacks tomatoes, but it is not a major threat to crop is destroyed. this crop. As the damage caused by plant nematodes is The golden nematode is the subject of strin- becoming more widely recognized, general in- gent quarantine regulations in most countries terest in the problem is increasing and a mount- where it occurs. Countries not known to be in- ing volume of questions are being asked by fested have rigid regulations governing the im- growers. Most countries now have nematolo- portation of potatoes or other products that gists devoting their efforts to problems caused might carry the pest. Agricultural officials in by plant nematodes. More and more surveys are countries where the nematode occurs agree that being undertaken in many countries to deter- potatoes cannot be grown economically on land mine distribution and identification of plant containing large numbers of the nematode. nematodes. Tuber yields of less than seed planted have been Control of the golden nematode in most areas reported from fields heavily infested. of the world still depends on crop rotation. How- The golden nematode poses many problems ever, scientists have been devoting more and in its control. It has a remarkable ability to sur- more attention to the development of resistant vive under unfavorable conditions. It can re- varieties. Resistance-breaking biotypes of the main dormant in the soil in the absence of host golden nematode have now been reported from plants for many years because the unhatched several countries, and investigators are devot- nematode is protected by both the shell of the ing much attention to the influence this has on eggs and the durable cyst wall, which acts as a the problem. protection against adverse conditions. The lack The use of nematocides to control the golden of any one aboveground symptom to betray its nematode is also being investigated by workers presence is an aid to its survival. Thus, light or in several countries. Some European countries scattered infestations of the nematode repro- are making limited use of these chemicals. How- duce and increase in the soil undetected. During ever, the high cost of chemicals has been a fac- this time of buildup, infestations may spread to tor in preventing large-scale use. new fields, and because the populations are low In the United States the use of nematocides they will not be detected by the best survey is increasing annually for nematode control on techniques. This type of spread and slow build- many crops. Over 100 million pounds of nema- up of populations is undramatic, and low levels tocides are used annually in this country, prin- of infestations are always one step ahead of cipally on tobacco, pineapple, and vegetable survey.