Insecticidal control and economic damage of sugar-cane wireworm, Agrypnus variabilis (Candèze) in maize

Six insecticides (terbufos, chlorpyrifos, ethoprophos, phoxim, bendiocarb and lindane) were tested against sugar-cane wireworm Agrypnus variabilis (Candèze) in maize. The first five insecticides were applied at 0·25, 0·5 and 0·75 kg a.i./ha (2·27, 4·55 and 6·82 g a.i./100 metres of row) while lindane was applied at the registered rate of 0·29 kg a.i./ha (2·64 g a.i./100 metres of row). In addition, bendiocarb was applied as a seed treatment at the rates of 4000 and 6000 ppm. The insecticides were applied at planting as insecticide/fertilizer mixtures in 18 cm wide bands, 2–3 cm below the soil surface and 3–5 cm above the seed. The minimum effective rates were terbufos 0·25 kg a.i./ha, lindane 0·25 kg a.i./ha and chlorpyrifos and ethoprophos both at 0·5 kg a.i./ha. These treatments gave at least 5 weeks' residual control. The bendiocarb seed treatments were phytotoxic. No residues were detected in the cobs or grain at the minimum effective rates of the terbufos, chlorpyrifos or ethoprophos treatments. The positive linear relationship between plant population and yield showed that for every 1% loss in plant stand below the optimum range of 60 000–65 000 plants/ha, there is a 0·72-0·74% loss in grain yield respectively. Control measures would be economically justified with only a 2·3% reduction in plant stand (assuming $20/ha for cost of control and $150/tonne for maize).     

The control of weed,pest and disease complexes in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) by the application of pesticides singly and in combination

Several pesticides were evaluated singly and in combination or mixtures for their effectiveness against insects, nematodes, diseases and weeds in cowpea at Ibadan and Amakama in Nigeria. Of the granular insecticides/nematicides, carbofuran at 3·0 kg a.i./ha applied at planting reduced the population of thrips (Megalurothrips sjostedti) below control level up to 42 days after planting, but did not appear to translocate to the pods. Ethoprofos, isazophos and phorate were ineffective against thrips. Carbofuran also showed excellent control of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. The herbicides metolachlor and fluorodifen generally kept the plots weed-free up to 35 days after planting but had no effect on the nematodes. The fungicide benomyl applied as a seed treatment was not effective against web blight (Corticium solani) and brown blotch (Colletotrichum truncatum) but, when applied as a wettable powder in combination with monocrotophos as a foliar spray, offered effective control of the diseases and the combination gave the best grain yield across locations. The possible use of carbofuran with a cowpea variety that is resistant to larvae of the pod-boring moth (Maruca testulalis) is discussed.     

Control of stem nematode,Ditylenchus dipsaci,in narcissus with aldicarb

The efficacy of aldicarb in controlling stem nematode, Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kühn, Filipjev) in narcissus in the field was investigated. Although the proportion of infested narcissus bulbs was reduced when aldicarb (Temik 10G) granules were applied at 6kg a.i./ha in the autumn and spring, some infested bulbs remained and it is concluded that complete eradication of D. dipsaci is not possible.     

Chemical weed control in direct-seeded irrigated rice in the Lake Chad Basin,Nigeria

Two field experiments were conducted at Ngala in the Lake Chad Basin during the 1981 and 1982 wet seasons to investigate chemical weed control in direct-seeded, irrigated rice (Oryza sativa L.). Pre-plant-incorporated, pre- and post-emergence herbicides and their mixtures were tested in replicated, completely randomized block trials. Rice variety IR 28 was drilled each season at 125 kg/ha and fertilized with N (150 kg/ha) and P₂O₅ (40 kg/ha). In both seasons, the post-emergence herbicides propanil + oxadiazon at 3·0 + 1·0 kg a.i./ha, propanil+fluorodifen at 1·4 + 1·8 kg a.i./ha, propanil + bentazone at 3·6 + 1·5 kg a.i./ha and propanil at 3·6 kg a.i./ha as well as thiobencarb applied pre-emergence at 5·0 kg a.i./ha controlled the weeds effectively and gave similar grain yields to that from hand-weeding twice, and significantly higher grain yield than the unweeded control treatments. Grain yields similar to those from the ‘two hand-weeding control’ were achieved also by use of the herbicide dymrone at 3·0 kg a.i./ha, either soil-incorporated pre-sowing or sprayed before weed emergence. The herbicides gave satisfactory control of the weeds, which were predominantly the broad-leaved weed Luffa echinata Roxb., together with the grasses Sorghum aethiopicum (Hack.) Rupr. ex Stapf., Echinochloa colona (L.) Link, Eleusine indica (L) Gaertn, Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop., Oryza longistaminata (Chev. & Roehr.), and sedges Cyperus rotundus L. and Cyperus esculentus L. The studies indicate that effective weed control by these herbicides and herbicide mixtures are dependable alternatives to hand weeding for direct-seeded, irrigated rice cultivation in the Chad Basin area.     

Penthiopyrad applied in close proximity to Rhizoctonia solani provided effective disease control in sugar beet

Rhizoctonia solani Kühn is an important pathogen of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) that can cause damping-off and crown and root rot. Commercial cultivars which are highly resistant to the pathogen are not as high yielding as susceptible cultivars under low or absent disease pressure. These resistant cultivars often do not have resistance to other common pathogens such as Aphanomyces cochlioides, Cercospora beticola, and Fusarium oxysporum. Fungicides, such as azoxystrobin which belongs to the quinone outside inhibitors (QoI) class, are necessary for controlling Rhizoctonia solani, but there are concerns about the buildup of fungicide-resistant strains in the targeted pathogen population. There is a need to find effective fungicides from different chemical groups so they can be rotated with the current widely-used azoxystrobin to manage R. solani. The objective of this greenhouse study was to evaluate the efficacy of penthiopyrad, a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI), in managing R. solani on sugar beet using three different application methodologies. Penthiopyrad effectively controlled R. solani on sugar beet when applied at 210, 280, 420, or 550 g a.i./ha in-furrow at planting and as a soil drench at the 4-leaf stage. However, foliar application of penthiopyrad failed to provide disease control. These trials indicated that penthiopyrad needs to be in close proximity or direct contact with R. solani in the soil to provide effective control. Penthiopyrad has the potential to be used as an effective alternate partner with azoxystrobin for controlling R. solani and to help in mitigating the development of fungicide resistant isolates of R. solani.     

The response of onion couch (Arrhenatherum elatius ssp. bulbosum (Willd.) Schub. & Mart.) to glyphosate and other foliage-applied herbicides

Two experiments were conducted in which foliage-acting herbicides were applied to onion couch (Arrhenatherum elatius ssp. bulbosum). The first experiment used an artificially established population and investigated the effects of straw burning on the performance of autumn-applied treatments of glyphosate, aminotriazole and dalapon. Spring barley was sown without cultivation. The second experiment, conducted on a naturally occurring infestation, compared the performance of glyphosate applied at alternative autumn timings and a single application of flamprop-methyl made in the following spring, in the presence of a winter wheat crop. In the first experiment, assessments made after 15 months suggested that straw burning resulted in increased growth. In addition, herbicide performance appeared less effective after burning. In neither case were these differences significant. Glyphosate at 1·0 and 1·5 kg a.e./ha gave the highest levels of control of both shoots and bulbs, whereas control from aminotriazole at all doses (1·5, 3·0 and 4·5 kg a.i./ha) was poor. Dalapon (6·0, 12·0 and 18·0 kg a.i./ha) was intermediate in its effectiveness. In the second experiment, applications of glyphosate at 1·0 and 1·5 kg a.e./ha resulted in high levels of control of both shoots and bulbs with no significant difference between application dates. Flamprop-methyl at 0·52 kg a.i./ha reduced the number of shoots and bulbs by 55% and 58% respectively. All treatments significantly reduced the number of inflorescences present in July.     

Phytotoxicity of isazophos,lindane and heptachlor to sorghum applied as in-furrow and broadcast-incorporated treatments

Isazophos applied as an in-furrow spray at 0·5, 0·75 and 1·0 kg a.i./ha (4·65, 6·98 and 9·3 g a.i./100 m of row) reduced the establishment of Yates NK 212 sorghum by 37, 61 and 75% respectively. Similarly, heptachlor at 1·12 kg a.i./ha (10·42 g a.i./100 m of row) and lindane at 0·29 kg a.i./ha (2·7 g a.i./100 m of row) reduced establishment by 24 and 57% respectively. Heptachlor and isazophos, applied at the same rates but as broadcast-incorporated sprays and the lowest rate of isazophos applied as an in-furrow spray (0·25 kg a.i./ha, 2·33 g a.i./100 m of row) were not phytotoxic.     

Herbicide evaluation studies in transplanted chilli pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) in the Nigerian savanna

Field trials were conducted in the Nigerian savanna to evaluate the performance of various herbicide mixtures for weed control in chilli pepper (Capsicum frutescens L. var. Serrano chilli) during the wet seasons of 1982 to 1984 and in the 1982/83 dry season. Linuron at 0·5 kg or 0·75 kg a.i./ha in mixture with either alachlor at 1·5 kg, metolachlor at 1·5 kg, oxadiazon at 1·5 kg, or diphenamid at 3·0 kg, as well as metolachlor plus metobromuron at 1·0 + 1·0 kg and 1·5 + 1·5 kg a.i./ha all followed by supplementary hoe-weeding at 6 weeks after transplanting combined effective weed control with high chilli pepper fruit yields comparable to the hoe-weeded control in all the trials. Unchecked weed growth throughout the crop life cycle resulted in an 86–90% reduction in potential chilli pepper fruit yields.     

Insecticides for control of potato tuberworm and green peach aphid on potatoes in California

Six insecticides were evaluated in a replicated field experiment at Gonzales, California, for control of the potato tuberworm,Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), and the green peach aphid,Myzus persicae (Sulzer). Azodrin^®, methomyl, Stauffer N 4543 (O-isobutyl ethylphosphonodithioate S-ester with N-(mercaptomethyl) phthalimide) and azinphosmethyl were applied as foliage sprays by ground sprayer at 2-week intervals. The systemic insecticides, aldicarb (Temik^®) and carbofuran (Furadan^®) formulated as 10% granules, were applied to the soil as side dress treatments on the same day that the spray treatments were begun. Aldicarb granules were also applied topically so that the granules fell on the young plants and on the soil surface. Azinphosmethyl, Stauffer N 4543, Azodrin^® and methomyl effectively controlled the tuberworm larvae in the foliage but effective control of tuberworms in the harvested tubers occurred only where azinphosmethyl, methomyl and Stauffer N 4543 were used. The granule applications of carbofuran and aldicarb were totally ineffective in controlling the potato tuberworm. Effective green peach aphid control was obtained with Azodrin^® spray and the two granular aldicarb treatments. The side dressed application of aldicarb appeared to provide better green peach aphid control than did the soil surface application.     

Chemical control of sorghum head bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Eight contact and three systemic insecticides, and an enriched neem extract were tested for the control of sorghum head bug, Calocoris angustatus Leth. at the ICRISAT Center. The insecticides were applied at the complete-anthesis and milk stages (at 500 1/ha) with a knapsack sprayer. On the basis of effectiveness of head bug control, grain yield and 1000-grain mass, carbaryl (at 500 g a.i./ha) was the most effective insecticide followed by fenvalerate (at 50 g a.i./ha), and chlorpyrifos (at 250 g a.i./ha). Among the systemic insecticides, demeton-S-methyl (at 250g a.i./ha), was the most effective. Demeton-S-methyl and dimethoate were also effective for the control of other head bug species—Eurystylus bellevoyei Put. and Reut. and Campylomma sp. Plots sprayed with demeton-S-methyl gave higher grain yields than those treated with carbaryl, which was the best contact insecticide. Two sprays of carbaryl (at 500g a.i./ha) applied at the complete-anthesis and milk stages have been found to be effective for head bug control. Dichlorvos, fenitrothion and monocrotophos were highly phytotoxic and resulted in burning and drying of entire leaves. Dimethoate resulted in a slight drying of leaf tips and margins.     

Controlled-release insecticide granules, compared with other soil insecticides, for use against the termite, Macrotermes natalensis Haviland, in the establishment of Eucalyptus plantations

Following the banning of DDT and dieldrin, and pending the withdrawal of other organochlorine insecticides in many countries, there is a need to find alternative treatments against termites for the establishment of Eucalyptus forestry plantations. Controlled-release granules (CRG) of carbosulfan, carbofuran and phorate were nearly as effective as chlordane emulsifiable concentrate (0·6 g a.i./tree) in reducing attack on Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden by Macrotermes natalensis Haviland. The optimum application rate of CRG formulations was 1·0 g a.i./tree mixed with the surrounding soil at planting out. Changes in granule size and release rate had no discernable effect on the efficacy of the granules, nor was there any advantage in incorporating part of the dose in the seedling planting medium. Chlorpyrifos CRG was significantly less effective in protecting the trees. There was evidence that under dry soil conditions phorate CRG was ineffective. Of 11 other non-controlled-release insecticides tested, alphamethrin suspension concentrate at 0·1 g a.i./tree was the only non-organochlorine material as effective as the CRG formulations.     

防治小麦纹枯病和根腐病高效药剂的筛选及其与香菇多糖联用的防效评价

为实现对小麦纹枯病和根腐病节药防控,采用菌落直径法筛选了对小麦纹枯病菌和根腐病菌高效的杀菌剂,并将其与香菇多糖联用,通过小麦拌种处理,在盆栽条件下评价其对小麦纹枯病与根腐病的防治效果。结果表明,95%己唑醇对小麦纹枯病菌、根腐病菌的毒力最高,对这两种病原菌的EC₅₀分别为0.094、0.144 mg·L^-1;97%咯菌腈对小麦纹枯病菌、根腐病菌的EC₅₀值分别为0.312、0.766 mg·L^-1。剂量为1 g a.i.·100 kg^-1小麦种子的己唑醇施药后7 d对小麦纹枯病和根腐病的防效分别为77.5%和80.2%;剂量为4 g a.i.·100 kg^-1小麦种子的咯菌腈施药后7 d对小麦纹枯病和根腐病的防效分别为75.8%和82.5%。香菇多糖与己唑醇和咯菌腈混合拌种对两种小麦病害的防效均高于单剂处理,0.5 g a.i.·100 kg^-1小麦种子的己唑醇与4 g a.i.·100 kg^-1小麦种子的香菇多糖联用7 d后,对小麦纹枯病和根腐病的防效分别为75.2%和79.4%。2 g a.i.·100 kg^-1小麦种子的咯菌腈与4 g a.i.·100 kg^-1小麦种子的香菇多糖联用与己唑醇/香菇多糖联用防效相近。综上所述,己唑醇或咯菌腈与香菇多糖联合施用,可兼治小麦纹枯病和根腐病,有助于小麦生产节药控害,降低环境污染。     

The use of asulam to control Bromus sterilis in ryegrass crops grown for seed

Asulam applied in April 1981 and 1982 gave good control of established plants of Bromus sterilis growing in Italian and perennial ryegrass crops grown for seed. Doses of 1–3 kg a.i./ha reduced numbers of weed inflorescences by 65–90%. The results also showed that there was no effect on crop heading and further suggested that seed yield had not been reduced. Two pot experiments also indicated the efficacy of asulam at 0·5-2 kg a.i./ha applied pre-emergence and further study of such treatment in the autumn during the establishment of a ryegrass seed crop is warranted.     

Residues of carbaryl,lindane and monocrotophos on rice treated for control of rice bug, Leptocorisa oratorius (Fab.)

This study investigated the correlation between insect mortality and insecticide residue levels in rice grain during the developing stages and at harvest, and also determined the relative toxicities of three insecticides, monocrotophos (Azodrin 16·8 EC), lindane (Agrocide 26 DP), and carbaryl (Sevin 85 WP) to Leptocorisa oratorius (Fab.), (Hemiptera: Alydidae). The insecticides were applied on field plots at 0·75 kg a.i./ha at the start of the milk stage of the developing grains. Sampling was conducted at 2 hours and 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days after spraying, which covered the milk stage to the soft dough stage. Mortality of insects exposed to the treated grain, the residue analysis of the treated grain during development and at harvest, and the LD₅₀s of the insecticides were determined. Monocrotophos was the most effective insecticide against the rice bug; lindane provided control for only one day; carbaryl was ineffective. Maximum residue levels of lindane and carbaryl in the harvested grains were below the established tolerance limits provided by FAO/WHO. There is no established tolerance for monocrotophos in rice.     

Maize genotype susceptibility to Rhizoctonia solani and its effect on sugar beet crop rotations

Root and crown rot is the major soil-borne fungal disease in sugar beet. In Europe, the disease is mainly caused by the anastomosis group (AG) 2-2IIIB of the basidiomycete Rhizoctonia solani (Kühn). No chemical fungicide to control the disease has been registered in Europe. Therefore, agronomic measures must be optimized to keep the disease severity below an economic damage threshold and to minimize white sugar yield losses. R. solani AG 2-2IIIB infects many other crops besides sugar beet, including maize, where it causes root rot. Sugar beet and maize are frequently grown in the same crop rotation. The proportion of cultivated maize in several European sugar beet growing areas is expected to rise due to a projected increase in demand for renewable resources over the next few years. Although the susceptibility to and tolerance of the disease varies among cultivars in both crops, little is known about the effects of cultivar susceptibility in the pre-crop on a subsequent susceptible crop. The cultivation of R. solani-resistant maize genotypes in rotation with resistant sugar beet might therefore be a useful tool in an integrated control strategy against R. solani, eliminating the need to restrict the desired crop rotation for phytosanitary reasons. A crop rotation experiment with artificially inoculated R. solani was conducted in the field to investigate the pre-crop effects of maize cultivars which differed in their susceptibility to R. solani on a susceptible sugar beet cultivar. We hypothesized that the maize genotype would influence the inoculum potential and performance of a susceptible sugar beet genotype grown after a maize pre-crop, and that this would correlate with the susceptibility of the maize genotype. The results demonstrate that the susceptibility of maize genotypes is consistent over a period of years and that cultivated maize genotypes influenced the inoculum potential measured as disease severity in sugar beet. However, disease severity in sugar beet did not correlate with the disease susceptibility of the genotype of the maize pre-crop. Possible reasons for this missing relationship might be differences in the quality of maize residues for the saprophytic survival of the pathogen or a genotype-specific alteration of the antagonistic microbial community. However, our findings showed that in the presence of maize- and sugar beet-pathogenic R. solani, the most favourable maize cultivar for a crop rotation cannot be determined solely on the basis of its resistance level against Rhizoctonia root rot.     

Systemic effect of aldicarb,dimethoate and ethiofencarb on mortality and population dynamics of the spirea aphid, Aphis citricola Van der Goot

A bioassay using detached citrus leaves, the petioles of which were immersed in solutions containing insecticides, was used to assess the systemic activity of aldicarb, dimethoate and ethiofencarb on the spirea aphid, Aphis citricola Van der Goot (Homoptera: Aphididae). At identical concentrations in the treatment solutions the order of toxicity to insects of these compounds was aldicarb > dimethoate > ethiofencarb. The toxicity of the residue of aldicarb in the leaves (LC₅₀=2·5 μg/g) resembled that of dimethoate (LC₅₀=1·8 μg/g) and both were more potent than ethiofencarb (LC₅₀=30 μg/g). The amount of aldicarb accumulated in the leaves, 3 days after application, was 25±0·5% of that present in the treatment solution, compared with 4±0·4% of dimethoate and 3±0·3% of ethiofencarb. Thus, the more efficient uptake of aldicarb may be the reason for its high toxicity. When sublethal concentrations of aldicarb incorporated in treatment solutions were taken up by detached leaves, a significant reduction in the pre-reproductive development time, and increased longevity and fecundity were observed. This hormoligosis phenomenon was further emphasized by a considerable increase in aphid weight. This effect seems to be plant mediated, as it was not observed when aldicarb was added to a synthetic diet. Dimethoate showed an effect similar to that of aldicarb, but less pronounced and not statistically significant, whereas ethiofencarb had no such effect.     

Daily application of ultra-low-volume (ULV) insecticides at low dosages to control insect pests of cotton in Malawi

ULV carbaryl and DDT were applied to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) at two sites, five times a week, using five swath widths from 4·5 to 18 m, representing high to low dosages. Sprays were applied between 0830 and 1400 h during the day or between 1830 and 2100 h during the evening. Subsequently, Bemisia spp. (whitefly) and Paurocephala gossypii Russell (psyllid) populations were significantly larger on plants treated with lower dosages applied over wide swaths. Yields of seed cotton were significantly lower from plants treated with low dosages (< 0·5 kg a.i./ha weekly) but the results of spraying in the morning and in the evening were comparable, at both sites.     

Interactions of fungicide-insecticide combinations against Rhizoctonia solani in vitro and in soil

The inhibition of mycelial growth of Rhizoctonia solani in vitro was strongest with pencycuron, followed by tolclofos-methyl, carboxin and thiabendazole. Against cowpea seedling rot in soil infested with R. solani, tolclofos-methyl was most effective, followed by pencycuron, thiabendazole and carboxin. Of nine insecticides tested, only parathion-methyl and quinalphos suppressed mycelial growth of R. solani in vitro, although their activity was much lower than that of the four tested fungicides. The inhibition of mycelial growth by fungicide-insecticide mixtures was antagonistic in only two out of 36 combinations; it was additive in most cases or synergistic, e.g. for most mixtures of pencycuron and insecticides. Quinalphos, applied to the soil, was the only insecticide which reduced cowpea seedling rot in soil infested with R. solani. Soil application of parathion-methyl, phorate, aldicarb or carbofuran and seed treatment with phosphamidon, monocrotophos, endosulfan or dimethoate had little or no effect on seedling rot. Carboxin gave better disease control when applied to the seed already coated with phosphamidon, monocrotophos, endosulfan or dimethoate and when carboxin-treated seeds were sown in soil treated with quinalphos, parathion-methyl, aldicarb or carbofuran. Efficacy of thiabendazole seed treatment was slightly higher in the presence of insecticides, particularly dimethoate. Pencycuron and tolclofos-methyl as seed treatment gave nearly 100% disease control both in the presence and absence of insecticides. The synergistic interactions detected between fungicides and insecticides represent interesting opportunities for the control of R. solani.     

Effects of fungicides applied at seeding on stripe rust and common bunt of wheat

Control of stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis) and common bunt (Tilletia caries and T. foetida) of wheat (Triticum aestivum), with fungicides applied on or adjacent to seed at sowing, was studied. Etaconazole pellets (2800 g a.i./ha), fenfuram liquid seed treatment (17 · 5 g a.i./ha) and imazalil granules (5000 g a.i./ha) were phytotoxic, reducing the number of heads per plot. All treatments reduced the incidence of common bunt although benomyl granules (2500 g a.i./ha), benomyl pellets (1400 g a.i./ha) and imazalil granules (5000 g a.i./ha) were not as effective as the registered smut fungicides carboxin, fenfuram, fenaminosulf and triadimefon. Triadimefon pellets (7000 g a.i./ha), PP347 pellets (1400 g a.i./ha), triadimefon granules (1500 g a.i./ha), flutriafol pellets (1400 g a.i./ha) and etaconazole pellets (2800 g a.i./ha) reduced stripe rust severity 17 weeks after sowing by 90, 89, 88, 86 and 74%, respectively.     

The effect of nematicides onPratylenchus penetrans and potato yields

Aldicarb applied as Temik 10% or 15% granular at 1.68, 2.24 or 3.36 kg/ha active ingredient (a.i.) in the row at planting reduced the size of populations ofPratylenchus penetrons in experimental plots and commercial fields. Both aldicarb and the soil fumigant, Telone-II, were associated with yield increases of about 40% in Superior and Sebago potatoes in experimental plots in 1978, but there were no significant increases in yield in 1979 and 1980. A comparison was made between areas treated with aldicarb 10% granular at 2.24 kg/ha a.i. or disulfoton 15% granular at 3.36 kg/ha a.i. in 24 commercial fields. Average yields from the combined results of Kennebec, Superior, Sebago, and Russet Burbank cultivars were about 13% higher in the aldicarb treatments. Yields in six fields where aldicarb was applied at 3.36 kg/ha a.i. were not different from yields in adjacent fields treated with the lower rate of aldicarb. Superior potatoes inoculated withP. penetrons, or uninoculated, were grown in pots in the greenhouse in fine sandy loam at moisture levels of 35–55% or 70–100% field capacity. The lower soil moisture level and the nematode treatment reduced tuber weights. The nematode-soil moisture interaction was significant in one of the two experiments.