New Mexico Chile Task Force

Nematodes

Specialist
Nematode Testing Labs
Field Sampling

Pest Management: Nematodes Specialists:

Nematodes Specialists

Goldberg, Natalie CES Plant Pathology, NMSU, Plant Sciences Dept.
PO Box 30003, MSC 3AE Las Cruces, NM 88003
ngoldber@nmsu.edu
Phone: (505) 646-1621

Thomas, Stephen NMSU - Nematode Pests - Entomology Plant Pathology and Weed Science
PO Box 30003, MSC 3BE
stthomas@nmsu.edu
Phone: (505) 646-3225
http://taipan.nmsu.edu/eppws/

Commercial Lab: Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab

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Nematode Testing Labs

A & L Plains Agricultural Laboratory Inc.	Scot Coleman 302 34th St. P.O. Box 1590 Lubbock, TX 79408 scot@al-labs-plains.com Phone: (806) 763-4278 http://www.al-labs-plains.com
Midwest Laboratories, Inc	John P. Menghini 13611 B St.Omaha, NE 68144 jp@midwestlabs.com Phone: (402) 334-7770
NMSU Extension Plant Diagnostic	Gabe Ludwig Corner of College and Knox, Skeen Hall W242ALas Cruces, NM 88003 eppdc@nmsu.edu Phone: (505) 646-1965
Servi-Tech Labs	Randy Royle POB 1397 (1816 E. Wyatt Earp)Dodge City, KS 67801 randyr@servi-techinc.com Phone: (620) 227-7123

Field Sampling

Pre-Plant Soil Testing for Nematodes:

Soil samples should be taken in the early fall from the root zone of the previous crop shortly after the last irrigation. For an adequate test, a composite of 15 sub-samples should be taken from root zone randomly through the field. Sample depth should be 8-12 inches. The soil should be mixed and about 1 quart placed in a zip-lock bag. During transportation and storage, the soil should remain close to the temperature and moisture level in the field. If the soil gets too hot or cold, the nematodes are killed and cannot be recovered from the sample.

If you sample as described above (time and sample intensity) and your lab results indicate populations of root-knot nematodes over 400 juveniles per 500 cc of soil, get professional advice and consider treatment before planting. The nematode damage threshold will decrease (50-100 juveniles per 500 cc soils) and be less reliable if samples are taken in the late fall or winter. By that time, two things have happen: 1) the nematodes are in the egg stage and cannot be tested and 2) the soil has been mixed with site preparation and the concentration per volume of soil in the root zone has been lowered.

If you know that there is a history of root-knot nematodes on a field, and you are unable to soil sample in the fall, growers should plan to treat for nematodes. Remember that you cannot visually check a corn, sorghum, or onion crop for nematodes, you must soil test. Rotations from alfalfa should be soil tested for nematodes.

Goldberg, Natalie	CES Plant Pathology, NMSU, Plant Sciences Dept. PO Box 30003, MSC 3AE Las Cruces, NM 88003 ngoldber@nmsu.edu Phone: (505) 646-1621
Thomas, Stephen	NMSU - Nematode Pests - Entomology Plant Pathology and Weed Science PO Box 30003, MSC 3BE stthomas@nmsu.edu Phone: (505) 646-3225 http://taipan.nmsu.edu/eppws/