PLANT PARASITIC NEMATODES ASSOCIATED WITH RABBITEYE, SOUTHERN HIGHBUSH AND HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRIES

Abstract

Two replicated blueberry plantings, one containing one highbush, (Vaccinium corymbosum) two southern highbush and two rabbiteye (V.ashei) cultivars, and another containing one highbush and three rabbiteye cultivars were sampled in October, 1991 and plant parasitic nematodes extracted and counted. Additionally, 15 commercial rabbiteye plantings were sampled. Standard and southern highbush samples had total plant parasitic nematode levels of 228-451 nematodes/250 ml soil compared to 4-14 nematodes/250 ml soil for rabbiteye. No difference in nematode population was found among the standard highbush ('Bluecrop') and southern highbush ('Cooper', 'Gulfcoast') cultivars. Xiphinema americanum was the most common nematode species found, along with very small populations of Paratrichodorus minor. All commercial plantings had lower nematode levels in samples from the blueberry plants as compared to those from the sod middles between the rows. Nematode levels from commercial plantings ranged from 1477/250ml soil from blueberry plants and 11-1546/250 ml soil from the sod middles. Species found at high levels in the sod samples were usually distinctly different from those found associated with the blueberry plants.