WEED CONTROL

Any nematode pest management program, including rotation programs, should involve good field management, particularly weed control. Weeds are potential hosts for many of the important common nematodes, and can act as reservoirs of infection and as hosts that maintain or even build up nematode populations. Weed control is especially important in rotation programs because a program's success depends on the absence of host roots to prevent nematode feeding and reproduction. Therefore, the presence of weed hosts will negate the benefits of growing a resistant or nonhost crop plant. For example, a high incidence of mustard weed on a field in which rotation to nonhosts controls sugarbeet cyst nematodes can minimize the benefits of this rotation to reduce the nematode population. Cyst nematodes have hosts among weeds of the families Chenopodiaceae and Cruciferae, and presence of such weeds as mustard can nullify rotation programs for the cyst nematode. Similarly, root knot nematodes have weed hosts representing many plant families, especially broad leaf plants. An example of common weed hosts of root knot nematodes are the Solanaceous nightshade plants, which allow good root knot nematode reproduction in many vegetable and field crops, such as tomatoes and cotton.

From: McKenry, M.V. and P. A. Roberts. 1985. Phytonematology Study Guide. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Publication Number 4045.

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