TABLE CONTENTS

Changing Nematode Threats to Farming Systems in North Western
Europe
Turner, S.J. & C.C. Fleming
Applied Plant Science & Biometrics Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, 18A Newforge Lane,
Belfast BT9 5PX, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
A tangible result of climate change in recent years has been the emergence of new nematode
problems in both the arable and amenity sectors. Here we discuss some recent observations
on potential nematode threats to agriculture in North Western Europe. Since its discovery in
the year 2000 on a potato crop in the Netherlands, the root knot nematode Meloidogyne minor
has become a major problem on soccer pitches and golf courses, particularly in Ireland and
Britain. Sampling of coastal grassland has shown this new species to be much more common
than first expected in Europe, and its spread into the amenity turf-grass sector appears to be a
response to climate change and turf management practices. Early studies of the pest indicated
that further damage to the European potato industry was likely in the future, and during 2007
M. minor was found causing damage to ryegrass pasture and potato crops in Ireland and the
Netherlands. Investigations of these recent outbreaks have given a better indication of the
potential threat from this new pest and here data are presented on the pathology of M. minor
on potato and grassland and the possible factors driving its spread into the European potato
sector. Additional trials have confirmed that most cultivated crops in northern Europe
(except maize, Zea mays) to be hosts, together with many common weed species. Efficient
management options may therefore be difficult due to the withdrawal of many nematicides in
recent years.
The examination of grassland and turfgrass samples from the British Isles has indicated that
there may also be growing problems from other ecto- and endo-parasitic nematodes including
Pratylenchus, Helicotylenchus and Pratylenchoides. The role of these nematodes in a
warming climate to the wider agricultural sector will also be discussed.
Cropping Systems for Sustainable Management of Sugar Beet Cyst
Nematode, Heterodera schachtii
Hafez, S.L & P. Sundararaj
University of Idaho, Parma Research and Extension Center, 29603 U of I Lane, Parma, ID, 83660, USA
Sugar beet cyst nematode (SBCN), Heterodera schachtii, on sugar beet is the most serious
pests on sugar beet in Idaho, USA. Chemical strategies have been developed to manage the
nematodes below the economic threshold level. Most of the chemical practices are
commercially adapted by the growers but most of them are environmentally unsafe or some
of them are economically nonviable. Considering the narrow host range of SBCN, cropping
system patterns are best utilized for its effective management. Long term crop rotation studies
were conducted with different crops in the rotation scheme. In this scheme, beet was included
for every four years, three years, and two years. In the fall either the field was kept fallow or
planted with a different variety of green manure crop which was incorporated after eight
weeks. Non host crops such as corn, bean, wheat, onion or potato were included in the study.
Among all possible combinations, onion or potato or bean planted as previous crop resulted
in more reduction of nematode population followed by the significant increase in beet yield.
There are several reasons attributed. One of the possible explanations is the irrigation
5 th International Congress of Nematology, 2008 22