Plant parasitic nematodes in white clover and soil from white clover pastures in Australia

Abstract

Summary. Seventeen sites, including locations in all the major white clover growing regions of Australia, were surveyed for the presence of plant parasitic nematodes in autumn and spring 1993. Trifolium repens L. cvv. Haifa and Irrigation, plus 1 other cultivar, were sampled at each site and nematodes extracted from roots, stems and soil. Thirteen genera of plant parasitic nematodes were detected. The clover cyst nematode, Heterodera trifolii, and root knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., were each recorded at over 75% of the sites. The most common genera of plant parasitic nematodes detected were Tylenchus, which was present at all sites, and Pratylenchus (root lesion nematode), which was present at all but 1 site. Other plant parasitic nematode genera found included Ditylenchus, Helicotylenchus and Paratylenchus. The widespread presence of nematodes in white clover pastures, and the high populations at some sites, suggest that they may be economically important to the Australian dairy industry.