TABLE CONTENTS

schedule of these crops. More frequent irrigation in growing of beans, onion, potato cause
significant reduction in SBCN population densities. Also the long rotation allowed to plant a
green manure crops in the rotation scheme more often causes more reduction in SBCN
population before beet is planted.
Options for Managing Nematode Pests in Dryland Cereal Cropping: Tales
from Australia
Vanstone, V.A.
Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, South Perth, Western Australia 6151
Cereal Cyst (Heterodera avenae, CCN) and Root Lesion (Pratylenchus spp., RLN)
Nematodes are associated with loss of grain yield in south-eastern and western Australia. In
these regions, rainfall is unreliable, cropping soils are inherently deficient in nutrients, soils
are fragile with poor structure and little organic matter. Soilborne fungal pathogens are also
common. This environment, coupled with economic constraints, poses a significant challenge
to the management of nematode pests. Chemical control of these nematodes is not a
profitable option, and no nematicide is currently registered for use on cereals in Australia.
The host range of CCN is narrow: effective management can be achieved through rotation
with non-host crops (primarily legume and oilseed species), provided that grass weeds within
and between cropping phases are adequately controlled. Development of cereals with
resistance to CCN has offered a profitable method of managing the nematode in the dryland
cereal cropping systems of Australia. Widespread adoption of well-adapted resistant cereal
cultivars has resulted in significant decline in populations of, and losses due to, this nematode
(particularly in south-eastern Australia) over the last 15 years. Cultivars with tolerance are
also available, but there has been less emphasis on development of this trait. However, there
are cultivars with both resistance and tolerance to CCN.
Several species of RLN occur in this region. In contrast to CCN, all have wide host ranges, so
management through crop rotation is more difficult. However, evaluation of crop species and
cultivars has provided information to assist with choice of crops and their sequence to reduce
RLN populations and associated crop losses. Since crop species and cultivars differ in their
capacity to host different species of RLN, and mixed populations can occur in the field,
rotations must be tailored to the predominant species, and nematode population densities and
species composition needs to be monitored. Crop nutrition, time of sowing and weed
management are also important considerations in the management of RLN.
5 th International Congress of Nematology, 2008 23