This has been a cool and wet spring, perfect conditions for Needle nematodes to show their damage.

Late corn planting will not prevent nematode damage. The nematodes remain active in the soil and wait for the young seedlings, and invade their young roots soon after germination. Young corn seedlings are vulnerable to the tiny nematodes as they aggregate around roots and with the aid of hollow needle-type mouth parts suck the juice out of the corn root.

If these weather conditions persist, we anticipate that you will encounter problems from Needle nematode on corn. Needle nematode activity usually starts when soil temperatures reach 50°F and usually ceases when soil temperatures rise above 85°F. If you have noticed patches of stunted young corn seedlings in sandy soil, Needle nematode might be the problem. If you view these symptoms, you may wish to send the entire root system with adjacent soil to the Nematology Laboratory (address below) at Purdue University for analysis, which will rule out nematodes as the cause. Samples must be kept cool and prevented from drying. This is the perfect time to sample for Needle nematodes. They will soon start to disappear as the soil temperature rises.

It must be mentioned that wheat and other grass crops are also good hosts for Needle nematode, as well as many other kinds of nematodes that parasitize corn. If you have noticed patches of stunted wheat with clubby abnormal roots, Needle nematode could be the problem. You still have time to sample the wheat in the same way as described for corn and send it to our Nematology Laboratory for analysis.

To read more, click here

Source: Purdue University