Root Knot Nematode

Hi, my name is: Root Knot Nematode

Describe yourself: For some reason, heaps of people are really scared of me. I dont know why, Im
just a microscopic little critter who looks a bit like an eel. Im not a bad guy, its just I have this toxic
saliva that seems to destroy everything it touches
Hobbies: I love roots! Roots are my life! I adore entering roots and nibbling the goodness out of
them, while secreting my terrible saliva. Apparently this causes rotting, abnormal cell enlargement
and multiplication (like galls), abnormal cell division that results in an excessive number of lateral
roots, and general stunting.
Likes: Roots, especially those of tomatoes, potatoes, beans, carrots, wheat, grapevines, and
ornamentals such as many cut flower varieties. I especially love sandy soils, it lets me breathe and
move about! I love warm weather and curling up with an egg sac over winter!
Dislikes: The roots of a few plants (French Marigold and Asparagus mainly) confuse my lifecycle
and can result in my untimely passing, resistant plant varieties, crop rotation, regular watering,
compost and mulch.
Youll know youve met me when: Well, this is part
of the problem, you probably wont know until you
pull out your plants and have a look at the roots.
Because I hang out underground, the first you may
know about it is slow growing, stunted plants with
pale green or yellow leaves
Old School Control Methods: Nemacur (or similar
Nematicide)
Breaking up aint hard to do if you
Forget about the chemicals this aint going to work for us little fellas!!
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Destroy all infected plants by bagging and disposing in rubbish, or burning. Do not compost.
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Rotate your crops!!! Dont plant the same crops, or susceptible crops in the same area each
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season. And the crops that replace them must be immune to the nematode or have a high level
of resistance. These include some grasses, cabbage, cauliflower, sweet corn and onions.
Plant loads of French marigolds in your patch with susceptible plants! French marigold roots
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produce exudates that stimulate hatching of nematode eggs, but when the larvae enter these
plants they die without completing their lifecycle.
Try a little asparagus! Asparagus roots secrete an exudate that is toxic to nematodes.
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Regularly water, use compost and mulch, and keep the soil rich in organic matter!
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Photographs:
Pic 1: http://www.avrdc.org/photos/tomato_diseases/index.html
Pic 2: http://www.nematology.umd.edu/rootknot.html Desc: Here I am what a handsome devil!
Pic 3: http://www.apsnet.org/Education/LessonsPlantPath/RootKnotNema/default.htm Desc: A carrot
crop showing Root Knot Nematode Damage