Nematodes are one of the most dangerous pests, the presence of which causes numerous losses among vegetation. They attack not only ornamental plants, but also vegetables, shrubs and fruit trees as well as grass. Which nematodes are the most harmful? Learn the types, symptoms of feeding and effective spraying on soil nematodes.
Soil nematodes - characteristics
Nematodes are invertebrate organisms with an elongated, translucent body, and their size does not exceed 0.3 mm in length. This is the main cause of problems with early diagnosis of the presence of the pest. Small size, however, is not an obstacle to very destructive feeding - nematodes cause huge losses among garden, orchard and field vegetation.
In most cases, nematodes are found in the substrate, feeding on plant roots. Only a small proportion of plant pest nematodes feed on their above-ground parts. This group includes, among others, the chrysanthemum nematode and the virulent washer.
Nematodes that feed on plants limit their growth, cause numerous damage to the roots, and facilitate the penetration of soil pathogens into the interior of plants. In addition, soil nematodes contribute to the spread of viral diseases that are dangerous to plants.
Symptoms of soil nematodes
To begin with, it is worth emphasizing that nematodes are a huge group of roundworms found not only in water reservoirs, but also in soils, in plant tissues and in animal organisms. Not all of them are harmful to our crops and the mere appearance of nematodes is not a major cause for concern.
The problem begins when the size of the population exceeds the acceptable standards, thus creating a lot of havoc among the vegetation.
Unfortunately, capturing this stage is not an easy task. The reasons should be sought not only in the microscopic size of nematodes, but also in the symptoms of their presence. They are very often confused with fungal and viral diseases and with the effects of feeding on other pest species, e.g. grubs, i.e. beetle larvae.
One of the first symptoms of nematode feeding is leaf necrosis and small brown spots in the vicinity of leaf veins. If the invasion becomes stronger, soon these spots begin to spread radially over the entire surface, which in turn leads to significant deformation and dying of buds and leaves. What's more, nematodes significantly damage plant roots, which contributes to the easy penetration of dangerous pathogens, fungal diseases, bacteria and viruses, inhibition of growth and significant yield losses. It is worth noting that roots that have been attacked by nematodes are usually not suitable for consumption. 14ºC.
It is interesting that different species of nematodes prefer different plant species. Moreover, feeding symptoms may vary depending on the type of pest. Below are the most common species of nematodes and the plants on which they can occur.
Types of nematodes
The scathing washer - most often attacks onions and garlic. It can also appear in the cultivation of celery, parsley and broad beans. It is a migratory species, and the effect of its presence is significant twisting and deformation of the leaves and weakening of the roots. It feeds on the parenchyma of leaves, bulbs and roots. The attacked plant begins to rot quite quickly, and even dies completely.
Northern guzak - a species that feeds on most dicotyledonous plants, both in field and greenhouse crops. Plants most at risk of nodule infestation are: carrot, parsley, tomato and potato. In greenhouse crops, it attacks tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce. The pest feeds inside the roots, resulting in small growths on them, from which later lateral roots grow. The attacked plant is weakened and its growth and development is disturbed.
Harmful root root - attacks mainly orchard and ornamental plants. Their activity inside the young roots causes gradual dieback by producing harmful compounds.
Nematodes - parasites attacking the roots of plants, in which they disturb its physiological development by producing harmful enzymes. Numerous small roots appear around the roots, while the plant itself shows slower growth and reduced resistance to drought. A fairly common symptom is also wilting and yellowing of the leaves. The most common species of nematodes in Poland are beet nematodes, potato nematodes and aggressive nematodes.
Umbel beetle – feeds on parsley and celery roots. The presence of spielworm contributes to the formation of wounds through which fungal diseases penetrate. The defensive reaction of the plant is the increased production of a large number of lateral roots. Another symptom of pest infestation is the appearance of brown spots on the plant.
Methods of combating nematodes
Completely getting rid of nematodes from the garden is not an easy task, but it is worth taking action, because too much spread of the pest can cause huge losses in a short time.
One of the most effective and effective methods is the use of a proven nematicide. The recommended preparations are primarily P-Drakol and Biomass Sugar by Target. Both preparations have been approved for use in organic farming, and their use is most effective if we use a soil lance. These agents reduce the number of nematodes and, moreover, regenerate the root system and improve the overall condition of plants.
Other methods are also used to control nematodes, such as watering or spraying plants with garlic extract, planting in close proximity to naturally repellent plants such as marigolds or asparagus. It is also worth remembering about proper crop rotation and keeping all gardening tools clean, which can easily transfer the pest to healthy plants.
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