Foliar Nematodes: A Summary of Biology and Control with a Compilation of Host Range

Abstract

Foliar nematodes (Aphelenchoides fragariae, A. ritzemabosi, and A. besseyi) are pathogens of ornamental crops in greenhouse and nursery production, and may infect some field crops as well. Foliar nematodes migrate over plant surfaces through films of water to enter the stomates of leaves, causing vein-delimited lesions on leaf tissue. This review covers research on the identification, biology, epidemiology, and management of foliar nematodes, and also provides a new compilation of plant hosts that includes over 700 different plant species. Accepted for publication 11 October 2011. Published 29 November 2011.