WINTER SURVIVAL OF ROOT-KNOT NEMATODES (MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA AND M. HAPLA) UNDER SELECTED HOST CROPS IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO

Abstract

In field experiments at Harrow, Ontario, the southern root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita overwintered successfully on woody perennial roots of peach in a moderate winter, but was unable to survive a subsequent severe winter on this host. At Vineland Station, Ontario, M. incognita did not overwinter below the frost line in a moderate winter under alfalfa, a poor perennial host, but did overwinter under red clover and tomato in a severe winter, although the population was severely reduced. By comparison, the northern root-knot nematode Meloidogyne hapla survived well under all three hosts in both winters at depths from 0 to 90 cm.