Nematodes Associated with Pennisetum purpureum and Saccharum sp. in Florida

Abstract

During two growing seasons, the most abundant plant-parasitic nematodes found on crops of energy cane (Saccharum sp.) and napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum) were Belonolaimus longicaudatus and Criconemella ornata, along with low numbers of C. sphaerocephala. Near the end of the 1986 growing season, populations of B. longicaudatus were negatively correlated with height of plants and length of leaves of energy cane. Although such negative correlations were not observed in the second season (first ratoon) of either host crop, in a few cases positive correlations (P 0.05) were observed between plant growth parameters and population density of either B. longicaudatus or Criconemella spp. During the second season, similar initial (Pi) and final (Pf) populations of B. longicaudatus were maintained on both crops (energy cane: mean Pi = 32/100 cm of soil; mean Pf = 30/100 cm soil; napiergrass; mean Pi = 56/100 cm soil; mean Pf = 34/100 cm of soil). Population levels of Criconemella spp. were