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Nematodes are worm-like microscopic animals that live in the soil. There are numerous soil-inhabiting nematode species, but not all are harmful to plants. Some nematodes are plant-parasitic, feeding on and damaging roots, including those of grapevine. Feeding activities of these nematodes reduce the vine’s ability to take up water and nutrients from the soil, leading to lack of vigour, symptoms of nutrient deficiency, wilting, lower yield, vine decline and, in severe cases, vine death. Nematode feeding sites can also lead to entry of other disease-causing organisms (e.g. fungi or bacteria), resulting in rapid vine decline.
Nematodes can survive in the soil for many years, so are difficult to eradicate. It is therefore important to prevent introduction of damaging nematodes to the vineyard, particularly as their control or management in established vineyards is difficult to achieve.
Number of Pages
Biosecurity, Identification, Nematoda, Control methods, Plant parasitic nematodes, Vineyards, Western Australia
Animal Sciences | Biosecurity | Plant Sciences
Vanstone, V, and Lantzke, N. (2006), Nematodes in Western Australian vineyards. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, Perth. Bulletin 4667.
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