Influence of aldicarb on root lesion nematodes, leaf disease and root rot in wheat and barley

The effects of aldicarb on populations of root lesion nematodes (primarily Pratylenchus penetrans ) and on grain yields of spring barley and wheat were examined in the field over 3 years, 1981*83. The incidence of barley net blotch ( Pyrenophora teres ), wheat leaf blotch ( Leptosphaeria nodorum ), and common root rot ( Cochliobolus sativus ) was also recorded in 1982 and 1983. Aldicarb treatments reduced the size of root lesion nematode populations in soil and roots in all years, except in the mid-season soil sample in 1983. The severity of leaf disease was decreased only in 1982, but the incidence of root rot was not significantly affected by the nematticide. Although aldicarb increased cereal grain yields by approximately 15% there was no significant relationship between numbers of root lesion nematodes in roots and soil and fungal disease symptoms on barley and wheat.     

The influence of drought and cyst nematodes on potato growth. 4. Effects on crop growth under field conditions of four cultivars differing in tolerance

In field experiments carried out in 3 years with and without fumigation and irrigation 4 cultivars of potato differed in their tolerance of cyst nematodes (Globodera pallida). Ground cover, tuber and foliage fresh and dry yields were determined at regular intervals. From these measurements, intercepted radiation, radiation use efficiency for production of total and tuber dry matter and the apparent amount of intercepted radiation at tuber initiation were calculated and compared for all the treatments. The results indicate that cultivars which best maintained ground cover in the absence of nematodes also maintain it best in the presence of nematodes. Such cultivars gave the highest yields at all levels of nematode infestation because the radiation use efficiencies were far less affected by nematodes than was intercepted radiation. The similarity of the responses to nematode infection and to drought and the absence of interaction between these two stress factors facilitated crop simulation modelling. The relationships found here may well be wider used, though they will have to be validated for other cultivars and growing conditions.     

Detection of the root lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans in potato tubers

The root lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans parasitizes a wide range of economically important crops, including potato (Solanum tuberosum). Damage by P. penetrans impacts not only the potato yield but can also reduce the tuber quality. Detailed information on tuber infection by P. penetrans is scarce for most cultivars and molecular detection of nematodes from infected tubers is needed. The objective of this study was to assess tuber symptomatology due to P. penetrans infection in 10 potato cultivars and to provide an accurate molecular methodology for nematode detection using tuber peels. Sprouts of certified potato seed from cultivars Agata, Agria, Camel, Désirée, Dirosso, Kennebec, Laura, Picasso, Royata, and Stemster were planted in 2 L pots, and soil was inoculated with 4 P. penetrans/g of soil. Sixty days after inoculation, tubers were harvested, inspected for lesions, and the number of nematodes/g of potato peel assessed. Observations of tubers with symptoms showed the presence of P. penetrans in superficial layers of peels around the lenticels and injured necrotic tissue. Different nematode stages were detected in tubers of all inoculated cultivars, varying from 4 to 46 nematodes/g of potato peel. Species-specific primers showed suitable sensitivity and reproducibility for the detection of P. penetrans in tuber potato peel samples. The molecular detection of P. penetrans directly from tuber peels can facilitate routine nematode inspections of potato seed tubers or cull potatoes for nematode detection, and prevent further dissemination of this species.     

Rice nematode problems in Nigeria: Their occurrence,distribution and pathogenesis

Abstract

In a survey of plant parasitic nematodes associated with or affecting rice throughout Nigeria, some important nematode pests, especially the white tip disease nematode, Aphelenchoides besseyi and the rice root nematodes Hirschmanniella spinicaudata and H. oryzae were identified from seed, soil and root samples from swamp rice fields respectively. The sugarcane cyst nematode, Heterodera sacchari occurred in swamp rice fields only around the major sugarcane estates in Nigeria. The root‐knot Meloidogyne incognita and the root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus brachyurus were also encountered in upland (rainfed) rice fields. The white tip disease nematode, A. besseyi occurred at low levels in soils and rice seeds throughout the country. High population levels of H. spinicaudata and H. oryzae were encountered especially in areas where monoculture of rice is practised. General chlorosis, poor tillering and significantly reduced yield have been observed due to H. spinicaudata. Rice plants attacked by H. sacchari also showed intense chlorosis, delayed and reduced tillering and reduced grain yield. The roots of attacked plants were twiggy, very necrotic and blackened. The root‐knot M. incognita and the root lesion nematodes P. brachyurus have both been observed to reduce rice yields. Rice cultivars screened for reactions to the nematodes showed varying degrees of susceptibilities. Some varieties were however resistant to the root‐knot nematode, M. incognita.     

土壤处理对西洋参根际线虫数量动态的影响及对防治茎线虫根腐病的效果

 Root rot of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) caused by Ditylenchus destructor is a novel disease found recently in Beijing area. The effects of three soil treatments (fumigating with chloropicrin, chloropicrin + lvfeng organic manure and nematicide fosthiazate) on the number of rhizospheric nematodes, survived plants, root yield and root rot of 3-year ginseng plant were compared. The effects were also investigated at the second year after treatment. The results indicated that the number of parasitic nematodes in rhizosphere of treated soil reached the peak value in late June to early July as the soil temperature raised in the growing season. Compared with the regular treatment, the number of plant parasitic nematodes was reduced while non-plant parasitic nematodes increased. The number of non-plant parasitic nematodes in the soil treated with chloropicrin + lvfeng organic manure was 2 times than that treated with chloropicrin only. The ratio of non-parasitic to parasitic nematodes of three treatments was higher than the control. Percent of survived plants was 94.8%-96.4% and diseased root was decreased obviously. The control efficacy was more than 89% at the first year after treatment. The survived plants and plot yield of ginseng increased significantly and the control efficacy was around 40% at the second year. The best of the three treatments was by chloropicrin + organic manure.     

Effects of three microbial broth cultures and an organic amendment on growth and populations of free living and plant-parasitic nematodes on banana

The effect of 24 treatment combinations of cultures of Streptomyces costaricanus sp. nov. (ATCC55274), Bacillus thuringiensis (ATCC55273) and a strain of Paecilomyces marquandii, nematicide (cadusaphos), and/or wheat mash on growth and response of potted banana plants (Musa AAA) and populations of Radopholus similis, Helicotylenchus multicinctus and free living nematodes were studied in Río Frío, Costa Rica. The best plant responses (height, leaf numbers, healthy root weight), lowest numbers of plant parasitic nematodes and highest numbers of free living nematodes were observed for treatments containing wheat as a component. Two treatments, viz. wheat + Streptomyces costaricanus (200-ml culture) and wheat + P. marquandii (200-ml culture), gave the overall best results. Numbers of free living nematodes increased up to 1500-fold only for treatments containing wheat. Significant positive correlations existed between numbers of free living nematodes and shoot weight, healthy root biomass, plant height, and leaf numbers. Non-wheat treatments, including nematicide only, gave the poorest responses in general. Observations of nematodes sampled 50 days following planting in wheat-containing treatments showed most of the free-living nematodes ( 90%) to be infected by nematophagous fungi (species not recorded). The results show that an organic amendment to soil, with or without a microbial component, can be an effective inducer of processes that regulate plant-parasitic nematode populations in soil.     

不同复水措施对油菜生长、产量及品质性状的影响

以2个油莱品种为材料,在播后30~100 d的苗期干旱胁迫后采取"水"、"水+钾肥"、"水+钾肥+赤霉素"、"水+尿素"、"水+尿素+赤霉素"等5种复水处理,研究干旱胁迫后各复水措施对油菜生长、产量及品质的影响,分析不同复水措施增产的成因。结果表明:苗期干旱胁迫后,与未复水对照相比,除在皖油19中"水"处理未显著提高地上部干重和"水+尿素"处理未显著提高总根干重外,5种干旱恢复措施都显著提高了天禾油11和皖油19的地上部干重、总根干重、小区产量和产油量;5种复水处理对2个油菜品种的地上部干重、总根干重、小区产量和产油量,平均增幅分别达到11.6%、22%、19%和23.7%。5种复水措施中,地上部干重、总根干重、籽粒产量、产油量增幅最大的都是"水+尿素+赤霉素",分别增加24.7%、27.7%、34.2%和36.8%。与未复水对照相比,5种复水措施产量增幅由高到低依次为:"水+尿素+赤霉素"、"水+尿素"、"水+钾肥+赤霉素"、"水+钾肥"和"水"。关联及相关分析表明,5种复水措施促进增产的主要原因是复水显著增加了单株总角果数。     

Root infection of potato by Spongospora subterranea: knowledge review and evidence for decreased plant productivity

Information is reviewed on root infection of potato by the plasmodiophorid Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea. This pathogen has long been recognized as the cause of root galls (hyperplasia) and the economically important disease powdery scab on tubers (modified stolons). The significance for plant productivity of the zoosporangium stages of the pathogen in potato roots has only recently begun to be documented. Two experiments are described that assessed effects of S. subterranea root infection on potato plant root function and productivity. A greenhouse experiment measured root function and plant parameters for eight potato cultivars with markedly different susceptibilities to tuber powdery scab. Water uptake and plant growth were reduced by S. subterranea inoculation in all eight cultivars. The magnitudes of these negative effects, and intensities of root hyperplasia, differed among the cultivars, but were not related to respective susceptibilities to tuber powdery scab. A field trial assessed root function and plant productivity for a cultivar (Iwa) that is very susceptible to Spongospora tuber and root diseases. Soil water content beneath uninoculated plants was consistently less than for inoculated plants, indicating that inoculation reduced water uptake (root function). Inoculation reduced shoot and root dry weights, and reduced weight of tubers per plant by 42%. Spongospora subterranea causes three diseases of potato: root membrane dysfunction, root hyperplasia and tuber powdery scab. The root diseases caused by the pathogen are likely to be important both for powdery scab management and for deleterious effects on potato crop yields.     

Effects of fosthiazate and aldicarb on populations of plant-growth-promoting bacteria, root-lesion nematodes and bacteria-feeding nematodes in the root zone of potatoes

A 2-year study investigated the relationship between the nematicides aldicarb and fosthiazate and populations of plant growth-promoting (PGP) and plant-growth-inhibiting (PGI) bacteria, and root-lesion nematodes and bacteria-feeding nematodes in the root-zone soils of potatoes. Fewer ( P  < 0.05) bacterial genera and species were recovered from aldicarb-treated soils than from the fosthiazate and untreated soils but bacterial population densities were greatest in the aldicarb-treated soils. In potato plantlet bioassays using root-zone bacteria from the three soil sources, bacteria from the aldicarb-treated soils reduced ( P  < 0.01) the mean wet and dry weight of shoots and roots compared with those from the fosthiazate and untreated soils. In the field, fosthiazate (but not aldicarb) significantly increased tuber yields and reduced nematode population densities of Pratylenchus penetrans in roots and soil. Population densities of bacteria-feeding nematodes (primarily Diplogaster lheritieri ) were not affected by either nematicide. Aldicarb appeared to suppress the populations of plant-growth-promoting bacteria that contribute to enhanced growth in potatoes. This is attributed to the long-term use of aldicarb at the trial site, which may have encouraged the selection, or adaptation, of soil microorganisms that degrade carbamate pesticides but do not enhance potato growth.     

Interactions of Pratylenchus thornei and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris on Chickpea

ABSTRACT Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris and the root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus thornei coinfect chickpeas in southern Spain. The influence of root infection by P. thornei on the reaction of Fusarium wilt-susceptible (CPS 1 and PV 61) and wilt-resistant (UC 27) chickpea cultivars to F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris race 5 was investigated under controlled and field conditions. Severity of Fusarium wilt was not modified by coinfection of chickpeas by P. thornei and F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris, in simultaneous or sequential inoculations with the pathogens. Root infection with five nematodes per cm(3) of soil and 5,000 chlamydospores per g of soil of the fungus resulted in significantly higher numbers of propagules of F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris with the wilt-susceptible cultivar CPS 1, but not with the wilt-resistant one. However, infection with 10 nematodes per cm(3) of soil significantly increased root infection by F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris in both cultivars, irrespective of fungal inoculum densities (250 to 2,000 chlamydospores per g of soil). Plant growth was significantly reduced by P. thornei infection on wilt-susceptible and wilt-resistant chickpeas in controlled and field conditions, except when shorter periods of incubation (45 days after inoculation) were used under controlled conditions. Severity of root necrosis was greater in wilt-susceptible and wilt-resistant cultivars when nematodes were present in the root, irrespective of length of incubation time (45 to 90 days), densities of nematodes (5 and 10 nematodes per cm(3) of soil), fungal inocula, and experimental conditions. Nematode reproduction on the wilt-susceptible cultivars, but not on the wilt-resistant one, was significantly increased by F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris infections under controlled and field conditions.     

Control of potato powdery scab caused by Spongospora subterranea by foliage cover and soil application of chemicals under field conditions with naturally infested soil

Powdery scab (PS), caused by Spongospora subterranea, reduces the quality and marketability of potatoes worldwide. Disease symptoms include lesions on the tuber surface and root galling, which may lead to yield losses. In the current study we report a sustainable approach to reduce PS by manipulating soil temperature during tuber initiation. Plant cover with nonwoven fabric significantly reduced PS on tubers by 54%–69% in 2017 and 84%–93% in 2019, compared to the control, and root galling by 96% in 2019, due to an increased average minimum and maximum soil temperature of 1.8 and 4.2 °C in respective years. Additional preplanting soil treatments were also evaluated in naturally infested soil. In 2017, disease incidence and severity were significantly reduced using 2.5 or 5 L a.i./ha fluazinam in broadcast application or in-furrow, and by 0.375 or 0.75 L a.i./ha flusulphamide applied in-furrow. In 2019, disease incidence and severity were significantly reduced by the broadcast application of fluazinam, and 75 kg/ha calcium cyanamide, but the latter had a negative impact on yield. Soil fumigation with metam sodium resulted in a 98% reduction in PS. Root galling was significantly reduced by calcium cyanamide, metam sodium, and fluazinam in the 2019 trial only. Foliar application of resistance-inducing phosphonates combined with fluazinam application had no additive effect on PS incidence and severity. Integrated approaches such as tolerant cultivars, soil testing, preplanting fungicide application, and sustainable means of control such as foliage cover for a short period may be implemented in order to control the disease and minimize damage.     

Pratylenchus species of soybean in Croatia1

The numbers and species of phytoparasitic nematodes on soybean were studied over several years in Croatia, especially in the regions of Slavonija and Baranja. 19 phytoparasitic species were found, and of these Pratylenchus spp. predominated. These nematodes were found in mixed populations and their numbers were, at times, enormous. The average number per 100 ml of soil was about 100 individuals, with a maximum of 3348. The relationship between the number of nematodes and yield of soybean was calculated by a single regression equation. The soybean cultivars Sava and OS-88 apparently possess tolerance to relatively high numbers of Pratylenchus spp. in the rhizosphere.     

Influence of different fertilization regimes on plant-parasitic nematodes in the black soil region of Northeast China

Plant-parasitic nematodes can cause serious plant diseases and adversely affect crop production. We investigated the temporal and vertical dynamics of plant-parasitic nematodes in northeast China to determine if long-term fertilizer application suppresses the population of plant-parasitic nematodes and influences their vertical distribution in the black soil region. The long-term fertilizer application lasted for 14 years, and included three treatments: pig manure combined with chemical fertilizer (MCF), chemical fertilizer (urea and ammonium phosphate, CF), and no fertilizer (NF). A 3-year corn-wheat-soybean rotation was grown on the field site, soil samples were obtained in the corn phase and nematodes were extracted, identified and counted. Six plant-parasitic nematode genera with relative abundance over 0.1% were found in this study. Heterodera was the dominant genus in all three fertilizer treatments, and its relative abundance was highest in NF (45.4%) and lowest in MCF (32.8%). Fertilizer application had a significant effect on abundance of total soil nematodes but not on either plant-parasitic nematodes or Heterodera. Significant differences in the abundance of total soil nematodes, plant-parasitic nematodes and Heterodera were observed among soil depths and interaction of fertilizer × soil depth. Total soil nematodes were mainly distributed in the 0–20 cm soil layer, and plant-parasitic nematodes and Heterodera were mostly distributed in the 10–30 cm soil layer. Fertilizer application did not show a significant effect on plant-parasitic nematodes or Heterodera at any of the sampling depths from 0 to 80 cm. The results indicated that fertilizer has no effective control on plant-parasitic nematodes when dominant genera and their respective plant hosts exist in relatively high abundance.     

Efficacy of Different Control Methods Applied Separately and in Combination in Managing Root-knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in Common Beans

Investigations on the efficacy of various methods of managing root-knot nematodes in microplots and under field conditions revealed that soil solarization, Furadan 5G and Tagetes erecta applied separately or in combination with other control methods, were the most effective in reducing the numbers of three root-knot nematodes, and root gall and egg mass indices. These management methods also resulted in significant increases (P0.05) in number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and 100-seed weight, and increased seed yield by up to 96.7 percent. Farmyard manure and Crotalaria ochroleuca were the least effective treatments. The use of T. erecta was the most economical root-knot nematode control method.     

Assessment of the impact of mid-season late blight infection on disease development and yield of potato variety Russet Norkotah in Maine

Development of late blight of potatoes caused by Phytophthora infestans (US 8 fungal genotype, A2 mating type) was monitored in two Russet Norkotah commercial fields at Fort Fairfield in 1996 and Duncan Farm in 1997. Experimental plots representing various disease treatments (low, moderate, high and random late blight severity levels) were established in two fields in 1996. In 1997, only low and high disease treatments were established. The application of fungicides for late blight control was conducted in both years. Late blight incidence and severity were assessed in each plot of each treatment. Components of late blight disease development, tuber blight incidence and tuber yields were determined from each plot. Progress of late blight disease was rapid in 1996 but not in 1997. During the 1996 cropping season, mean disease incidence and severity in the random disease treatment plots were 84 and 21% respectively within 10 days of disease detection. In 1997, low levels of late blight severity were detected in the field plots. Average numbers of late blight leaf and stem lesions on infected plant and fungal sporangia on the diseased leaf were not significantly affected by disease treatment. Late blight foliar severity significantly affected potato tuber yields. Lowest tuber yield was obtained in plots with high disease levels and highest yields were recorded in plots with low late blight severity in 1996. Late blight severity was significantly correlated with tuber yield but not with per cent tuber blight.     

Stability of partial resistance in potato cultivars exposed to aggressive strains of Phytophthora infestans

Potato cultivars were evaluated for their resistance responses to aggressive strains of Phytophthora infestans in field and laboratory experiments. Analysis of variance revealed differential cultivar-by-isolate interactions for both foliar and tuber blight resistance. Differential responses occur as revealed by specific susceptibilities of cultivars to certain pathogen genotypes and changing rank order. In general, severity of late blight epidemics as observed in the haulms did not correlate well with foliar blight resistance ratings as presented in the National List of Recommended Potato Varieties. No significant correlation was found between tuber blight incidence under field conditions and the tuber blight rating in the National List. Also, there was no relation between the field and laboratory tuber blight resistance assessments. A significant association was demonstrated between late blight infection in the foliage and tuber blight incidence under field conditions. The presence of differential interaction, independent of R-gene-based resistance, indicates some adaptation of P. infestans to partial resistance and consequently adverse effects on the stability and durability of partial resistance to potato late blight.     

Effects of soil moisture on cotton root length density and yield under drip irrigation with plastic mulch in Aksu Oasis farmland

Effects of soil moisture on cotton root length density (total root length per unit soil volume) and yield under drip irrigation with plastic mulch were studied through field experiments. The results indicate that spatial distributions of root length density of cotton under various water treatments were basically similar. Horizontally, both root length densities of cotton in wide and narrow rows were similar, and higher than that between mulches. Vertically, root length density of cotton decreased with increasing soil depth. The distribution of root length density is different under different irrigation treatments. In conditions of over-irrigation, the root length density of cotton between mulches would increase. However, it would decrease in both the wide rows and narrow rows. The mean root length density of cotton increased with increasing irrigation water. Water stress caused the root length density to increase in lower soil layers. There is a significant correlation between root length density and yields of cotton at the flower-boll and wadding stages. The regression between irrigation amount and yield of cotton can be expressed as y = -0.0026x2+18.015x-24845 (R2 = 0.959). It showed that the irrigation volume of 3,464.4 m3/hm2 led to op-timal root length density. The yield of cotton was 6,360 .8 kg/hm2 under that amount of irrigation.     

一种准确测定土壤根结线虫种群数量的方法

为探索一种准确测定土壤根结线虫种群数量的方法,采用NaOCl消解附着在土壤病残体上的根结线虫卵囊与线虫常规离心技术相结合的方法,测试了不同NaOCl浓度、离心时间对根结线虫回收效率的影响,筛选出最佳测定条件,并与浅盘法、离心法、Byrd法等线虫常规分离方法进行了比较。结果表明,在9个NaOCl处理浓度中,1.0%~2.5%NaOCl处理对土壤根结线虫的回收效率显著高于3.0%NaOCl处理,达到71.6%~99.4%。在1.0%、1.5%、2.0%和2.5%NaOCl处理30 s后,分别离心2~5、2~3、2~3 min和2 min对根结线虫的回收效率明显高于其它时间处理,在每50 m L土壤平均接种976粒线虫卵的人工病土中,上述处理分离线虫数量分别达到804.3~930.0、810.7~838.7、843.7~867.0和820.7。本研究的改良方法对自然病土中根结线虫的分离数量分别是浅盘法、离心法和Byrd法的29.3、13.4和2.1倍,显著提高了土壤中根结线虫的分离效率,可准确测定土壤根结线虫种群的数量。     

3种杀线虫剂对香蕉土壤线虫群落结构的影响

比较不同杀线虫剂对植物寄生线虫的杀灭效果及其对土壤线虫群落的影响,对于杀线虫剂的选择具有指导意义。本研究比较了5亿活孢子/g淡紫拟青霉粉剂、1.8%阿维菌素乳油和10%噻唑膦颗粒剂3种杀线剂对植食性线虫的防治效果及其对土壤线虫群落结构的影响。结果表明:植物寄生线虫是连作蕉园优势营养类群。苗期时只有阿维菌素表现出对植食性线虫的杀灭效果;蕾期3种杀线虫剂均表现出显著的杀灭效果,植食性线虫的数量较CK分别减少49.3%、17.4%和84.2%;苗期时1.8%阿维菌素乳油表现出对螺旋线虫属和肾形线虫属的杀灭效果,10%噻唑膦颗粒剂处理中肾形属丰度较CK减少了20.3%;蕾期相比于CK,5亿活孢子/g淡紫拟青霉粉剂、1.8%阿维菌素乳油和10%噻唑膦颗粒剂处理中植物寄生线虫类群数均有所降低,各处理对优势属螺旋线虫属和肾形线虫属均有杀灭作用,减少的比例分别为48.2%、40.6%、95.7%和50.1%、7.1%、84.5%,差异显著。3种杀线剂处理均降低了土壤中的自由生活线虫种类和丰度。苗期1.8%阿维菌素乳油处理能显著增加食细菌线虫的数量,5亿活孢子/g淡紫拟青霉粉剂和10%噻唑膦颗粒剂处理的自由生活线虫成熟指数MI和多样性指数H′较CK显著降低;香蕉蕾期处理间MI没有显著差异,10%噻唑膦颗粒剂处理的植物寄生线虫成熟指数PPI较CK显著减少,均匀度指数J′显著高于其他处理。综上所述,10%噻唑膦颗粒剂的效果最好,持效期长,对植食性线虫有明显的杀灭效果,对土壤线虫类群多样性和线虫成熟指数无显著影响,适宜在香蕉种植园推广使用。     

Evaluating Pochonia chlamydosporia in a double-cropping system of lettuce and tomato in plastic houses infested with Meloidogyne javanica

The effect of Pochonia chlamydosporia , a facultative fungal parasite of nematode eggs, alone or in combination with oxamyl was evaluated in a double-cropping system of lettuce and tomato in unheated plastic houses infested with Meloidogyne javanica at two sites for two consecutive growing seasons. An additional treatment of methyl bromide fumigation was included to compare crop yield in nematode-free vs. nematode-infested soil. Final population densities, reproductive rate, root gall rating, and egg production were determined after each crop. Pochonia chlamydosporia was isolated from nematode eggs up to nine months after application to soil. The fungus survived in the rhizosphere for the entire growing season at one site, but only at low densities. Final population densities of M. javanica decreased after cultivation of lettuce and increased after tomato, and this pattern of population fluctuation was unaffected by treatment, experiment or site. The reproductive rate on lettuce was equal to or below 1, and it was similar among treatments in both experiments at both sites. Eggs were not found on lettuce roots. On tomato, the reproductive rate in the fungus + oxamyl treatment was significantly lower ( P  < 0·05) than other treatments in experiment 1 at both sites. Fungus + oxamyl consistently reduced root gall ratings on tomato in all cases, but numbers of eggs per g root varied depending on treatment. Methyl bromide-treated plots remained free of M. javanica at the end of the 2-year study.