When to Sample for Nematodes on Corn - It Depends

October 27, 2010
ICM News

By Greg Tylka, Department of Plant Pathology


A recurring question often asked concerning plant-parasitic nematodes that feed on corn is, "When should samples be collected to check for these pests?" The answer depends on the details of each specific field situation. In most cases, fall sampling to test for nematodes that feed on corn is not recommended.


Most nematode species present during early to mid season

The reason that fall sampling generally is not recommended is because to determine if nematodes are causing or have caused damage to a corn crop, the species and population densities (numbers) of the nematodes in a sample are compared to damage thresholds. But the numbers of most nematode species that feed on corn tend to decline as the corn crop matures and dies. So low numbers from samples collected in the fall may be because the nematode numbers were not very high (and not damaging) during the growing season or may be the result of numbers declining from some higher, possibly damaging, level earlier in the season. There is no way to tell exactly what occurred during the growing season based on low nematode numbers in samples collected in the fall.


To determine if plant-parasitic nematodes are causing damage to corn, samples should be collected early to mid season, when nematode numbers are generally greater. Iowa State University recommends collecting samples whenever symptoms of damage, such as stunting, yellowing of foliage, mid-day wilting, lack of fine roots, swollen roots, and/or dead areas on roots are observed.


There are a few instances when fall sampling is warranted or even preferred, namely for root-lesion and lance nematodes and for needle and sting nematodes, as described below.


Root-lesion and lance nematodes

These two nematode species are endoparasites that enter corn roots and feed and reproduce almost completely within the roots throughout the growing season (see figure). Early or mid-season soil sampling is acceptable for the root-lesion and lance nematodes. But fall sampling for these nematodes also is acceptable because nematode numbers accumulate in root tissue throughout the season. Root-lesion and lance nematodes need to be extracted from both soil and root fragments in order to accurately determine the population densities of these nematodes.


Sting and needle nematodes

These two nematode species are among the largest plant-parasitic nematodes, and their distribution is limited to soils with 70 percent or greater sand content. These nematodes reportedly migrate deep into the soil profile during the middle of the growing season and thus, they may be missed in soil samples collected mid season, even if soil cores were collected to a depth of 12 inches. The damage threshold for these nematode species is very low (one worm per 100 cm3 or about a half-cup of soil) and their numbers do not get very high. So it is important to collect samples when there is the greatest likelihood of detecting low numbers of these nematodes. If nematode damage to corn is suspected in fields with high sand content (over 70 percent), spring or fall soil sampling for needle and sting nematodes is warranted.


Guidelines for collecting soil and root samples to check for plant-parasitic nematodes that feed on corn were discussed in an ICM News article July 19, 2010. More information about the different species of nematodes that can feed on corn was published in ICM News August 3, 2009.



Endoparasitic root-lesion nematode (arrow) inside of corn root tissue.



 


 


Greg Tylka is a professor of plant pathology with extension and research responsibilities in management of plant-parasitic nematodes.


 

Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on October 27, 2010. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.

Author: 

Greg Tylka Morrill Professor

Dr. Greg Tylka is a Morrill Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology at Iowa State University with extension and research responsibilities for management of plant-parasitic nematodes. The focus of Dr. Tylka's research program at Iowa State University is primarily the soybea...