Sting Nematodes on Corn

(Additional images)

Sting Nematodes on Corn

Sting nematodes (Belonolaimus spp.) are ectoparasitic feeders on a wide range of hosts including corn, cereals, sugarcane, legumes, cotton and a variety of vegetables and grasses. They are large (compared to other nematodes) and are only found in sandy soil. Sting nematodes are found exclusively in North America and Nebraska is the northern most boundary of their range. They have been recovered from soils in the sandhills and Elkhorn valley. These nematodes produce a phytotoxic enzyme while feeding which makes them an economic threat even when present in small populations. They migrate vertically in the soil during the year, retreating to lower depths during the colder months. As the soil temperatures rise in the spring they migrate back up and begin feeding on host roots.

Symptoms

Aboveground symptoms include general plant chlorosis and stunting. Below ground, deep necrotic lesions are present on roots. Root tips are often destroyed, and the remaining root material becomes thick and stubby. General field symptoms occur in spots of varying size but a definite boundary between healthy and affected plants is visible.

Plant Health Management

Crop rotation.

This practice is rather difficult because of the host range of the nematode, however some susceptible hosts suffer less injury than corn.

Soil applied nematicides.

Counter and Furadan are labeled for control (1997). READ THE LABEL

Soil applied nematicides. Counter and Furadan are labeled for control (1997).

References

Jardine,D.J. and T.C. Todd.1990. The sting nematode. Kansas State Univ., Kansas Cooperative Extension Service L-817.

Nyvall, R.F. 1989. Field crop diseases handbook, 2nd. ed. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York. 817 pp.

Schurtleff, M.C. ed. 1980. Compendium of corn diseases, 2nd. ed. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN 105 pp.

Useful Links

Kansas State University

University of California - Davis

Caveat

This description is presented for information only and no endorsement is intended for products listed, nor criticism meant for products not mentioned. Always consult the product label before purchasing and using any pesticide.

Material contained on the Links from the page are the responsibility of the linked page's author(s).

This page was drafted by: Jane Christensen, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Disease images were provided by: Dr. David Wysong and Dr. Tom Powers, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Questions, Comments, Complaints and Complements?

This page is authored and maintained by:
Dr. J.E. Partridge, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

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