Effects of depth of seed burial and soil aggregate size on seedling emergence of Alopecurus myosuroides, Galium aparine, Stellaria media and wheat

Seedling emergence of Alopecurus myosuroides Huds., Stellaria media L. (Vill.), Galium aparine L. and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was compared at a range of depths of soil cover from 2 to 11 cm. The covering soil was a fertile agricultural soil with 60% clay content which had been sieved into four aggregate sizes. The aggregate sizes used were 26-50 mm. 14-25 mm. 6-13 mm and below 6 mm. Total emergence of all species was reduced with increased depth of sou cover. With A. myosuroides and S. media, total emergence was lowest in fine soil conditions. Alopecurus myosuroides showed a marked interaction whereby response to depth of sowing was least with fine tilth. The time to 50% emergence showed a similar response. With all four species, seedling emergence was slowest at greater depths of sowing and with the finest tilth, the differences tending to increase with increasing depth of sowing. A vert high proportion of the time to 50% emergence was accounted for by the lag time between sowing and the first recorded emergence.     

Influence of environmental factors on seed germination and emergence of Iresine diffusa

Iresine diffusa has become more abundant under no‐till soyabean in Argentina. The influence of temperature, light, cold‐wet storage, osmotic potential, dry storage and depth of seed burial on germination and emergence of I. diffusa was examined in a growth chamber experiment. Iresine diffusa seeds germinated at the highest proportion (>0.80) in all fluctuating day/night temperatures tested. Conversely, under a constant temperature regime, maximum germination rates occurred at 15 (0.78) and 20°C (0.82), and minimum germination rates occurred at 10 (0.19) and 30°C (0.36). Seed germination was not influenced by light exposure. However, germination decreased after 12 (0.76) and 16 (0.65) weeks in cold‐wet storage. To reduce germination significantly, ?0.4 MPa of osmotic potential (induced by PEG‐6000) or 120 mmol L^?1 of salt (NaCl) concentration was required. Seeds of I. diffusa showed high viability (0.85) after 720 days of dry storage. Low emergence was recorded for seeds buried at 2 cm, and seedling emergence was completely inhibited when seeds were buried at 5 and 10 cm. Iresine diffusa seeds had high viability and were capable of emerging in a broad range of environmental conditions. The thermal germination conditions, shallow soil depths and high moisture conditions in germination phase for I. diffusa are congruent with the conditions in Argentina no‐tillage soyabean. Thus, no‐tillage could provide better conditions for germination than conventional tillage systems. However, due to the fact that I. diffusa can reproduce by rhizomes, further research should be conducted to understand the relative importance of the vegetative reproductive strategy in relation to the presence and persistence of this weed in fields.     

Growth pattern of diploid and tetraploid spotted knapweed, Centaurea maculosa Lam. (Compositae), and effects of the root-mining moth Agapeta zoegana (L.) (Lep.: Cochylidae)

Glass-faced growth containers were used to study the phenology of three demes of Centaurea maculosa Lam. (Compositae), and the impact of root-mining by the moth Agapeta zoegana (L.) (Lep.: Cochylidae) on rooting intensity. This moth was recently established in North America for the biological control of spotted and diffuse knapweed, C. maculosa and C. diffusa. The life cycle, biomass production and longevity of the diploid European host plant (monocarpic biennial) and the tetraploid North American target species (polycarpic perennial) differed considerably, providing a possible explanation for the rapid spread of the tetraploid species in North America. Compared to controls, plants of German and Canadian origin infested by A. zoegana showed increased root growth during the mining period and after the emergence of the moths. However, no such difference was found in diploid plants of Hungarian origin. The observed plant reactions partly support, therefore, the hypothesis of a nutritionally controlled response to herbivory. Infested plants did not differ in fecundity compared to controls, but root-mining tends to reduce the survival rate of immature plants The consequences for the plant population density are discussed.     

The biological control of Centaurea spp. In North America: Do insects solve the problem

Spoiled and diffuse knapweed, Centaurea maculosa Lam. and C. diffusa Lam., both of European origin, are two of the most important rangeland weeds in North America. Surveys for potential biological control agents started in 1961, and agents were first introduced in 1970. So far, 11 phytophagous insect species of European origin have been released in North America. Despite legislation (restricted transport), large-scale application of herbicides and reductions in seed production of up to 95% by the existing seed-feeding biocontrol agents established, knapweed infestation has further increased during the last decade, covering nearly 2-8 and 13 million ha for spotted and diffuse knapweed, respectively. In this paper, the biocontrol programme is reviewed critically and the present status analysed. To reach a break-through in knapweed control, a cumulative stress approach is now envisaged, by extending the stress imposed by the biocontrol agents to increasing competition by the other vegetation through grazing regimes and reseeding programmes. Four steps to optimize the biocontrol effect and which lead to the integration of biocontrol into range management are described and suggestions, both scientific and political, are presented to render biological control more efficient and predictive.     

Effects of drought on weed emergence and growth vary with the seed burial depth and presence of a cover crop

In conservation agriculture, weed seed germination could decrease with the presence of a cover crop, surface weed seed location and temporal drought in summer just after seed shedding. This study simultaneously examined the effects of a cover crop, burial depth (seed location) and hydric stress on weed emergence and early growth. It was hypothesized that drought would reduce weed emergence and the initial growth of weed seeds and that this effect would be greater when the seeds were on the soil surface and in the presence of a cover crop. Four annual weed species were chosen that are frequently found (Anisantha sterilis, Vulpia myuros, Sonchus asper, Veronica persica) and not frequently found (Alopecurus myosuroides, Poa annua, Cyanus segetum, Capsella bursa‐pastoris) in fields that implement conservation agriculture. The unburied seeds had 26% lower emergence, on average, than the buried seeds (significant for six of the eight species), hydric stress reduced emergence by 20% (for seven of the eight species) and the presence of a cover crop reduced the level of emergence by 17% (for all species). The unburied seeds with hydric stress were emerging under the “most stressful” set of factors, with a 45% decrease in emergence, compared with the seeds emerging under the “least stressful” set of factors (buried seeds without hydric stress). All the weed growth measurements (height, dry matter content and number of leaves) decreased with the presence of a cover crop. The species that are found frequently in the fields that implement conservation agriculture, compared with the species that are not frequently found in conservation agriculture fields, had higher rates of germination and a higher tolerance of hydric stress when their seeds were unburied.     

秸秆覆盖对农田黑土春季地温的影响

通过黑土区田间长期定位试验,研究了秸秆覆盖度对太阳反射和土壤含水量的影响,进而探讨了其对土壤温度的调控作用。在作物出苗前,秸秆覆盖度免耕(覆盖度70%)>少耕(覆盖度10%)>旋松(覆盖度0%)。研究结果表明:免耕、少耕和旋松的累计反射强度依次递减,反射辐射强度越大土壤温度越低;免耕具有较高的质量含水量,质量含水量均与地温存在显著的负相关关系。     

Effects of soil moisture and sowing depth on the development of bean plants grown in sterile soil infested by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia solani</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma harzianum</Emphasis>

The effects of soil moisture (varying from 15% to 42% (v/v)) and sowing depth (1.5–6.0 cm) on the development of bean plants grown in sterile soil infested by the pathogen Rhizoctonia solani and its antagonist Trichoderma harzianum were studied under greenhouse conditions. The four possible combinations of soil infestation with both fungi were tested. Disease severity, percentage of plants emerged, plant height and dry weight were evaluated 3 weeks after sowing. Emergence rate and growth of plants inoculated only with R. solani were not affected by soil moisture, but in the presence of both fungi, plant emergence, plant height and dry weight significantly decreased when soil moisture diminished. Deep sowing significantly reduced the emergence rate and growth of those plants that were inoculated with R. solani only. However, when the soil was infested with both fungi, the effect of sowing depth was not significant. At a sowing depth of 6.0 cm, the percentage of plants emerged was 50% in the presence of T. harzianum, but only 6.7% when the pathogen was inoculated alone. The antagonist protected bean seedlings from pre-emergence damping-off, reduced disease severity and increased plant growth in the presence of R. solani, especially in moist soil.     

Effect of soil moisture during stratification on dormancy release in seeds of five common weed species

Although the effects of cold stratification on the release of physiological dormancy in seeds have been studied extensively, knowledge of the role of soil moisture content on seed dormancy release during cold stratification is limited. Our study determined seed dormancy characteristics and the effect of soil moisture content on seed dormancy breakage during cold stratification in the five common weed species Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium hybridum, Plantago lanceolata and Setaria glauca. Seeds of all five species were dormant at the time of harvest and their germination response to light and temperature varied. Soil moisture content had a significant effect on seed dormancy release of all species except P. lanceolata. Germination percentage of A. retroflexus, C. album, C. hybridum increased and then decreased as soil moisture content increased, regardless of germination test temperature. The optimal soil moisture content and seed moisture content for dormancy breakage of A. retroflexus, C. album, C. hybridum were 8%, 12%, 8% and 22.0%, 37.7%, 25.7% respectively. Dry storage (after‐ripening) significantly increased germination of S. glauca. Moreover, increasing soil moisture content first slowed and then increased dormancy breakage in S. glauca. These results suggest that data on soil moisture content should be incorporated into models that predict weed seed dormancy breakage and timing of seedling emergence as well as those for weed management.     

Simulated rainfall sequences affect germination and biomass allocation of Chihuahuan desert native plants

Ecological restoration of many arid zones is a pressing issue because of recurrent loss of plant cover. Here, we conducted a germination and growth study of three framework plant species, native to the Chihuahuan Desert in Northern Mexico, to optimize the establishment for arid zone restoration. The plant species were Zinnia grandiflora Nutt., Menodora scabra A. Gray, and Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm, which were selected for their potential for restoration as drought tolerant species. We evaluated seed germination, survival, and biomass allocation of seedlings under four (high, medium, low, and very low) simulated rainfall sequences as irrigation treatments. Rainfall sequences were obtained from a previous study that considered 35?years of precipitation records. Each sequence is accounted for 20% of probability of a wet, normal, low, or very low year in terms of precipitation occurring in the study area. Germination was conducted in controlled greenhouse conditions and seeding was done in pots containing soil mix. Sequences produced soil moisture fluctuations in which germination percent was higher for M. scabra (88%) and Z. grandiflora (31%) on the high sequence compared to the other sequences. Survival at the end of the treatments was above 80% of all the three species, and seedlings allocated more aboveground biomass as the moisture increased and more belowground biomass as moisture decreased. Implications under our study conditions include that germination of Y. elata would not be negatively affected by low soil moisture, and the best germinative results for Z. grandiflora and M. scabra would be achieved under higher soil moisture.     

Impact of Brassica juncea biofumigation on viability of propagules of pernicious weed species

Biofumigation may be a promising tool for depletion of persistent weed seedbanks/bud banks. This technique is based on the incorporation of chopped glucosinolate‐rich plant biomass into the soil, upon which isothiocyanates with herbicidal properties are released. To gain acceptance by farmers and foster its implementation, the biofumigation process should be further optimised. This study elucidated the impact of biological (species), technical (burial depth, ground cover) and pedohydrological (temperature and moisture content) factors on efficacy of Brassica juncea biofumigation under (semi‐)natural conditions. In a first experiment (field experiment), seeds and vegetative propagules of various weed species were buried at different depths and exposed to different doses of fresh fine‐chopped B. juncea biomass in the presence or absence of a plastic ground cover. In a second experiment (container experiment), buried seeds of ten species were subjected to biofumigation at diverging soil organic matter content, soil moisture content and soil temperature. In a third experiment (dose–response Petri dish bioassay), unburied seeds of eight species were subjected to various doses of rehydrated B. juncea powder. Biofumigation efficacy was determined by analysing viability of treated and untreated propagules. In general, efficacy of biofumigation increased with decreasing burial depth and increasing B. juncea dose. Biofumigation was highly effective (mortality >85%) against small‐seeded species but less effective (mortality 0%–20%) against hard‐seeded and large‐seeded species at 200 t ha^?1. Vegetative propagules of Sonchus arvensis, Equisetum arvense and Convolvulus sepium were highly sensitive (mortality >90%) to biofumigation. Efficacy was most pronounced under moist warm incubation conditions, in the presence of a plastic ground cover.     

温度、土壤含水量和埋蛹深度对柑橘大实蝇羽化的影响

为揭示环境因子对柑橘大实蝇成虫羽化的影响,采用三元一次正交组合设计分析,分别建立了成虫羽化出土率、存活率、始见日以及羽化历期与温度、土壤含水量和埋蛹深度及其互作关系的回归方程。在4个方程中温度的偏回归系数最高,分别为19.37、22.14、15.88和9.63,且均为负相关;土壤含水量主要影响成虫的羽化出土率和存活率,其偏回归系数分别为6.92和12.02,呈负相关关系;埋蛹深度对成虫羽化出土率和存活率有一定影响,其偏回归系数分别为2.86和1.39,呈正相关关系;因子间互作主要影响成虫的存活率,其中温度×土壤含水量互作是其单因子作用的叠加,而温度×埋蛹深度以及土壤含水量×埋蛹深度的互作在一定程度上抵消了温度和土壤含水量对成虫存活率的影响。     

Seeding and Mulching Treatments as Conservation Measures of Two Burned Soils in the Central Ebro Valley,NE Spain

The effectiveness of seeding introduced species, with or without straw mulching, was tested as a measure of post-fire erosion control in gypsiferous (Xeric Haplogypsid) and calcareous soils (Xeric Torriorthent) in Central Ebro Valley (NE-Spain). Paired control, seeding, and combined seeding and mulching plots were established in four replicated plots for each soil tested. Seeding rate was 30 g m -2 and straw mulch was applied at 100 g m -2 in each plot. Plant projective cover (total and specific), plant biomass, bare soil cover and sediment yield were determined over a 2-year period. During the first year of sampling, species introduced by seeding increased plant cover (about 30%) without significant differences observed between soils. Plant cover was similar in seeding-only and seeding-mulching treatments, although the latter treatment significantly enhanced plant weight. During the second year these differences disappeared because species introduced by seeding practically did not survive. So, the introduced herbs did not interfere with native plants. Bare soil cover remained significantly lower in treated plots than on the control plots for both soils during both years of sampling. In the second year, the reduction of bare soil was attributed to both the straw mulch and litter from the seeding species. Soil protection was significantly higher in calcareous soils than in gypsiferous soils which is related to their physical and chemical properties. Cumulative sediment yield decreased significantly over time with both treatments on both soils. Soil losses from control plots were three times higher than seeding plots and 3.3 times higher than from seeding and mulching plots in gypsiferous soils. Soil losses from control plots were two times higher than from seeding plots and 2.7 times higher than the combined seeding and mulching plots in the calcareous soils. Cumulative soil loss was higher from the gypsiferous soils than from the calcareous soils due to the lower plant cover.     

Studies on the longevity and germination of seed of Eleusine indica and Crotalaria goreensis

The longevity of seed of Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. and Crotalaria goreensis Guill. & Perr. stored at various depths in a krasnozem soil in pots was studied over 3 years under natural climatic conditions on the Atherton Tableland of Queensland. Australia. In the first year the maximum percentage of seed which emerged was 68% for E. indica and 48.3% for C. goreensis. In the second year the percentages were 2.0 and 19.3. respectively and in the third year they were 0.2 and 1.4. In the case of both species emergence was greater from the 0–5 cm depth than from the 5–10 cm depth. Some of the seed buried at the 5–10 cm depth germinated but failed to emerge. Significantly more hard seed of C. goreensis remained at the 5–10 cm depth (25.7%) than at the 0–5 cm depth (9.8%) after 3 years. However, much of this seed was either dead or moribund and the percentage of truly viable seed (c. 5%) was the same at both depths. In depth of emergence experiments the emergence of seed of both species did not vary significantly in the 0–4 cm depth ranges. At depths greater than 4 cm emergence declined. No E. indica seed emerged from 8 cm or deeper and no C. goreensis seed emerged from 12 cm or deeper.     

The effects of desiccation on broad‐leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) and curled dock (Rumex crispus) root fragment regeneration

Fresh root fragments of Rumex crispus and Rumex obtusifolius, which initially contain 65–70% moisture, progressively lose moisture when desiccated under conditions matching summer weather in southeast England. The likelihood of shoot emergence and the time it took in glasshouse conditions were both affected by desiccation, with R. crispus the most affected up to 48 hr and R. obtusifolius slower to emerge after 48 hr. These effects converged after longer desiccation periods, and R. crispus entirely failed to emerge after 120 hr. The dry weight of emerged shoots was not significantly different between the species until they were desiccated for 96 hr, after which R. obtusifolius dry weight was significantly reduced. In outdoor trials, desiccation for 24 or 48 hr had a lesser effect on emergence in either species when fragments were planted at the soil surface or at up to a depth of 10 cm, compared to deeper plantings, but emergence was significantly lower in plantings at 15 or 20 cm. Emergence delays were not significantly different between the species until they were planted at 15 or 20 cm, when R. obtusifolius was slower to emerge than R. crispus, an effect exacerbated by increasing desiccation. Similar interactions of increasing soil depth and desiccation were found in reductions in dry weight, number of tillers and leaf area, with R. obtusifolius generally, but not exclusively, better able to withstand more extreme trial conditions. Our findings suggest that control of these highly troublesome weeds can be assisted by appropriate agricultural practices, notably exposing cut fragments to drying conditions followed by deep burial.     

Severity of phytophthora root rot and pre‐emergence damping‐off in subterranean clover influenced by moisture,temperature, nutrition,soil type,cultivar and their interactions

Studies were carried out in controlled environment rooms reflecting field situations. In the presence of the devastating soilborne pathogen Phytophthora clandestina, subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) seedling emergence was significantly affected by moisture, soil type, temperature and cultivar. The level of rotting of tap and lateral roots was significantly affected by nutrition, soil type, temperature and cultivar. There were significant interactions involving temperature, moisture, soil type and cultivar; cultivar resistance, high moisture, high or medium temperature, high nutrition and sand soil all contributed towards less pre‐emergence damping‐off and tap and lateral root disease and to greater clover productivity. Host resistance of subterranean clover cultivars was critical for reducing disease severity and increasing productivity, even when favourable environmental conditions for severe disease occurred. In the presence of P. clandestina, the most resistant cultivar, Seaton Park, performed best under a high temperature, high nutrition and high moisture combination, but showed lower productivity under conditions of low nutrition or lower temperature, even when moisture level was high. In contrast, less resistant cultivars Riverina and Meteora had less disease and greater productivity under low moisture conditions. Findings reflect field observations that pre‐emergence damping‐off and root disease from P. clandestina in subterranean clover is particularly severe under colder conditions and in nutritionally impoverished sandy soils, and demonstrate how variations in soil type, nutrition, moisture, temperature and cultivar have profound effects on the expression and severity of phytophthora pre‐emergence damping‐off and root disease and the productivity of subterranean clover forages.     

Seed dormancy,germination, emergence and seed longevity in Galinsoga parviflora and G. quadriradiata

Galinsoga quadriradiata (hairy galinsoga) and Galinsoga parviflora (smallflower galinsoga, gallant soldier) are very troublesome weeds in many vegetable row crops in Europe. To optimise management strategies for Galinsoga spp. control, an in‐depth study of germination biology was performed. Germination experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of light and alternating temperatures on germination of a large set of Galinsoga populations. Seedling emergence was investigated by burying seeds at different depths in a sandy and sandy loam soil. Dormancy of fresh seeds harvested in autumn was evaluated by studying germination response in light at 25/20°C with and without nitrate addition. Seed longevity was investigated in an accelerated ageing experiment by exposing seeds to 45°C and 100% relative humidity. Galinsoga spp. seeds required light for germination; light dependency varied among populations. Seedling emergence decreased drastically with increasing burial depth. Maximum depth of emergence varied between 4 and 10 mm depending on soil type and population. In a sandy soil, emergence percentages were higher and seedlings were able to emerge from greater depths than in a sandy loam soil. Freshly produced G. parviflora seeds, harvested in autumn, showed a varying but high degree of primary dormancy and were less persistent than G. quadriradiata seeds that lack primary dormancy. Lack of primary dormancy of freshly harvested G. quadriradiata seeds and light dependency for germination may be used to optimise and develop Galinsoga management strategies.     

Seed dormancy and soil seedbank of the invasive weed Chenopodium hybridum in north‐western China

Seed dormancy and persistence in the soil seedbank play a key role in timing of germination and seedling emergence of weeds; thus, knowledge of these traits is required for effective weed management. We investigated seed dormancy and seed persistence on/in soil of Chenopodium hybridum, an annual invasive weed in north‐western China. Fresh seeds are physiologically dormant. Sulphuric acid scarification, mechanical scarification and cold stratification significantly increased germination percentages, whereas dry storage and treatments with plant growth regulators or nitrate had no effect. Dormancy was alleviated by piercing the seed coat but not the pericarp. Pre‐treatment of seeds collected in 2012 and 2013 with sulphuric acid for 30 min increased germination from 0% to 66% and 62% respectively. Effect of cold stratification on seed germination varied with soil moisture content (MC) and duration of treatment; seeds stratified in soil with 12% MC for 2 months germinated to 39%. Burial duration, burial depth and their interaction had significant effects on seed dormancy and seed viability. Dormancy in fresh seeds was released from October to February, and seeds re‐entered dormancy in April. Seed viability decreased with time for seeds on the soil surface and for those buried at a depth of 5 cm, and 39% and 10%, respectively, were viable after 22 months. Thus, C. hybridum can form at least a short‐lived persistent soil seedbank.     

基于HYDRUS-2D的雨水集聚深层入渗系统土壤水分运移模拟

为了解雨水集聚深层入渗(RWCI)系统土壤水分的入渗规律,设置不同灌水量(10 L、21 L和36 L)和RWCI设计坑深(40 cm和60 cm)的室内土箱试验,观测不同灌水量与不同水头变化情况土壤含水率变化和土壤湿润锋在径向和垂直方向上运移过程,依据非饱和土壤水动力学理论,建立HYDRUS-2D变水头边界条件土壤水分二维入渗模型。通过与实测数据对比,结果表明模型模拟值和实测值具有较好一致性:垂向湿润锋相对均方差(R_E)、平均绝对误差(MAE)和纳什系数(NE)分别为0.019、0.011 cm和0.994,径向湿润锋R_E、MAE和NE分别为0.018、0.851 cm和0.977,土壤含水率R_E、MAE和NE分别为0.188、0.016 cm~3·cm~(-3)和0.916。相比于设计深度为40 cm的RWCI系统, 60 cm RWCI系统在不同灌水量下能够更有效地增加果树根系分布层的土壤含水率,增加土壤水分入渗深度;相同灌水量下RWCI系统设计深度的径向湿润锋分布间无明显差异,而垂直方向的分布具有明显差异;RWCI系统在相同的设计深度下,随着灌水量增大湿润锋在垂向与径向的运移距离差异逐渐增大。     

Effects of environmental factors and burial depth on seed germination and emergence of two populations of Caucalis platycarpos

Caucalis platycarpos is a weed species in irrigated and dry land farming systems in East Azerbaijan and Kermanshah provinces of Iran. Experiments were undertaken to compare C. platycarpos seed germination and emergence of a population from each province over a range of environmental factors, burial depth and crop residue treatments. The Azerbaijan population required lower temperatures (20/10°C day/night temperature) for its highest (90%) germination, compared with the Kermanshah population (88% germination at 25/15°C day/night temperature). In both populations, germination was 84–90% over a wide range of light/dark periods (10–24 h light), but considerable reduction (up to 42%) occurred under continuous darkness. The osmotic potential required for 50% inhibition of germination was ?0.54 and ?0.40 MPa for Azerbaijan and Kermanshah populations respectively. The NaCl concentration of 8.83 and 5.71 dS m^?1 caused 50% inhibition of germination in Azerbaijan and Kermanshah populations respectively. The X₅₀ parameter (the burial depth at which emergence is reduced by 50%) for Azerbaijan and Kermanshah population was 2.18 and 2.86 cm respectively. Crop residues had more inhibitory effects on the Azerbaijan than Kermanshah population. Adaptive differentiation of C. platycarpos populations has also resulted in smaller seeds of the Azerbaijan compared with the Kermanshah population and resulted in higher emergence for Kermanshah population seedlings from greater soil depths. These results suggest that differences in germination requirements, drought and salinity tolerance of C. platycarpos populations are correlated with environmental conditions of the habitats of the studied populations.     

Ecology of Xiphinema vuittenezi and Xiphinema pachtaicum in vineyards of north-east Croatia1

During a 3-year field study on two vineyards of north-eastern Croatia, the qualitative and quantitative composition as well as the vertical dynamics of Xiphinema spp. were determined each month. The greatest number of fertile X. vuittenezi females was noted in August-September at a soil moisture of 18–20%. The greatest number of larvae of this species was determined in September-October in a temperature range of 14–18°C and soil moisture of 18–22%. The development cycle of X. vuittenezi lasts about 24–33 months under natural conditions and that of its larval stages 3–8 months. The nematodes of this species are susceptible to high temperatures (above 20°C) and drought (under 13%). The greatest number of fertile females of X. pachtaicum was determined in July at a soil temperature of 20–24°C, absolute soil moisture of 16–20%. The greatest number of larvae was noted in September-October at a soil temperature of 16–21°C and soil moisture of 13–23%. The development cycle of X. pachtaicum in field conditions lasts about 12–13 months and that of the larval stages 2–3 months. This species demonstrated reduced activity at soil temperatures under 10°C and at soil moisture under 13%; larvae were less active than females at temperatures over 20°C. On the basis of the results obtained, it is suggested that sampling of vineyards to determine the distribution and population density of the two Xiphinema spp. should be performed at depths down to 50 cm in spring and autumn, which are also the most favourable times for nematicide application.