Biology, Ecology and Management of Plant Parasitic Nematodes in Minnesota

Abstract

Agriculture is a major part of the economy in Minnesota which is located in the Northcentral United States with a total of more than 10.5 million hectares of farmland. Corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) are two major crops grown in Minnesota with 3.5 and 2.8 million hectares grown in 2012, respectively (Vilsack and Clark 2014). The state is the country’s largest producer of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), sweet corn and green pea (Pisum sativum) for processing. Other crops include wheat (Triticum aestivum), oats (Avena sativa), barley (Hordeum vulgare), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), rye (Secale cereale), dry edible bean (Phaseolus angularis), canola (Brassica napus), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), flax (Linum usitatissimum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) and vegetable crops (Vilsack and Clark 2014). In Southern Minnesota, corn-soybean annual rotation is the most common cropping system. Wheat, oats, barley, canola, sunflower, dry bean and potato are mainly grown in the northern areas. A number of plant parasitic nematodes have been found in Minnesota fields and orchards associated with various agricultural crops and other plants (Table 6.1). However, only a few of them have been investigated for their economic importance in Minnesota. The soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines) is the most important nematode, and has been the focus of research in the state. Lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) are probably the second-most important group of plant-parasitic nematodes and there is some research of its biology and management in Minnesota. The emphasis of this review will be on the soybean cyst nematode and lesion nematodes. A brief summary of other potential important plant parasitic nematodes is also included.