Experiments were conducted in the greenhouse and field to evaluate Tagetes patula (marigold) and Aeschynomene americana (jointvetch) as possible nematode-reducing cover crop plants in Florida. In the greenhouse, high populations of Belonolaimus longicaudatus. Dolichodorus heterocephalus, and Paratrichodorus christiei developed on marigold, but only a slight increase of Hoplolaimus galeatus occurred. There was no increase of Meloidogyne incognita. Belonolaimus longicaudatus, D. heterocephalus, and H. galeatus did not build up on jointvetch but P. christiei increased to relatively high populations. Jointvetch exhibited a high degree of resistance to M. incognita although a few small galls developed on the roots and egg laying females were present. In a field experiment where B. longicaudatus was present, high populations of this nematode developed on marigold but remained low on jointvetch. Snapbean yield subsequent to the growth of jointvetch was equivalent to that following soil fall
