NCDC206: Impact of changing management systems on soil nematode communities (NC215)
- Duration:
- October 01, 2004 to September 30, 2006
- Administrative Advisor(s):
-
Steven G. Pueppke
(MICL)
- NIFA Reps:
-
James Green
Statement of Issue(s) and Justification:
Nematodes are known as one of the most speciose, abundant, and ubiquitous metazoans on earth. The estimated number of nematode species described worldwide is about 27,000 (Hugot et al., 2001). Of these, some 11,000 are terrestrial species and 3,500 are parasites of invertebrates. An estimated 1.5 million nematodes can be extracted from a square meter of soil, just within the surface 10 centimeters. The subgroups of these organisms that form parasitic relationships with plants and their roots are the best known of soil organisms because of the damage they cause to agricultural crops. One of the most highly publicized plant parasitic nematode in the North Central Region is the soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe. In the United States, soybean cyst nematode caused more estimated total yield reduction in soybean from1999 to 2002 than any other disease. Yield losses have remained relatively stable despite the use of resistant cultivars. Growers profits were increased by $400 million just from growing cultivar Forrest, resistant to soybean cyst nematode races 1 and 3, in infested fields (Bradley and Duffy, 1982). However, resistant germplasm can impose a selection pressure favoring the reproduction of those individuals in the nematode population with specific virulence alleles. This selection pressure can change the virulence characteristics of the nematode population rendering once useful germplasm no longer effective in reduction of soybean cyst nematode population density.Considerable research has been conducted on management of plant parasitic nematodes using both resistant germplasm and cultural controls. Much of this research studied the effects of economically important plant parasitic nematode in production fields where the soil was tilled, and pesticides used to control weeds and insects. Crop production techniques have changed as attempts to reduce soil erosion lead to reduced or no tillage. Pesticides readily available ten years ago are mostly unavailable after deleterious environmental and health issues were raised. Management of plant parasitic nematodes now must rely on understanding the biology of the nematodes as they interact with microbes and microfauna in soil communities.
Healthy soil is a universal prerequisite for profitable farming on a sustainable basis. Soil quality is generally defined as the capacity of a soil to take in, store and purify water, to hold and recycle nutrients, to support a diverse and robust biotic community, and to suppress pathogens and other pests (sensu Larson and Pierce 1991). Soil quality can and has been degraded through erosion, excessive tillage, compaction, use of broad-spectrum insecticides and soil fumigants, depletion of nutrients and the accumulation of salt and other minerals. These types of disturbances can shift ecological succession of soil communities to that assembling a depauperate soil matrix. Although recovery occurs eventually, abundance and diversity of nematode communities may take years to achieve pre-disturbance levels. The living microbes and microfauna that comprise the soil food web play critical roles in maintaining soil structure, soil fertility, and mediating important ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and maintenance of plant diversity (Dindal 1990).
Soybean cyst nematode has been the major yield limiting plant pathogen in the North Central Region for the last 30 years. Because of its great economic importance much research has been directed at managing this pest. Nematologists in the North Central Region have a history of cooperative research on economically important plant-parasitic nematodes and successful management decisions has been based on cooperative research that measures the diversity of soils, crop rotations, and climatic conditions. Conflicting research results have come out of tillage research indicating the promise of reducing soybean cyst nematode through this practice may be site specific. In some fields use of non-host crops for soybean cyst nematode has not reduced the population density of the nematode in the soil as rapidly as predicted. Plant resistance overall can reduce the population density of the nematode but, in certain fields the benefits of planting a resistant variety are not as obvious. The nematode-plant interaction is not as clean as expected or forecast.
One of the possible explanations of these unexpected results is the change to less persistent and more environmentally friendly pesticides. However, field and other studies suggest Bt cotton and Cry3A potato have no significant effect on nontarget beneficial microinvertebrates, and pose less risk to the environment than conventional spraying with pesticides (Sims 1995, Dogan et al. 1996, Donegan et al. 1996, Yu et al. 1997, Riddick and Barbosa 1998, Riddick et al. 1998).
Another explanation of conflicting results is the possible interactions of other plant parasitic nematodes and diseases which have not been extensively studied. Disease pressure in soybean/corn rotations from root lesion nematodes, Pratylenchus penetrans, P. scribneri, and other species, is increasing in Wisconsin. Reduced use of corn insecticides with nematicidal activity (Furadan, Counter) is probably one factor responsible for the rise in root lesion incidence, but an unexplored possibility is that reducing SCN population densities during the soybean year by planting resistant cultivars has diminished competitive interactions that formerly kept root lesion populations in check. The pathogenicity of Pratylenchus spp. to soybean in greenhouse trials (Ferris & Bernard) and to other crops, alone and in partnership with common soil fungi, warrant research on this pest in soybean systems.
Nematodes and their antagonists in soil have co-evolved for eons in undisturbed soil ecosystems. Equilibrium between nematode population densities and antagonists exists in the undisturbed soil and in soil with monoculture. Nematode-suppressive soils have been detected in a number of locations throughout the world. A nematode-suppressive soil may be caused by biotic or abiotic factors, but the detailed mechanism of development of nematode-suppressive soil remains unclear. Nematode-trapping fungi, for example, are greatly affected by soil type, organic matter, and other soil elements (Gray, 1987). A few studies have shown that culture practices, such as plant and cropping systems, affected activities of antagonists of nematodes (Bourne and Kerry, 2000; Chen and Reese, 1999; Schuster et al., 1998; Steudel et al., 1990; Timper et al., 2001). Studies of the activities of antagonists and nematode-suppressive soil will generate useful information to understand how the impact of changing management system on the nematode communities, to enhance natural biological control through adopting a best management system, and potentially identify antagonists for commercial use as biological control agents.
Related, Current, and Previous Work:
A review of CRIS projects using plant-parasitic nematodes and community structure revealed 21 active projects. All projects were from outside of the north central region and are focused on different cropping systems. Other projects had minimal focus on nematodes, were focused on entomophilic nematodes, or were concentrating on plant resistance. This proposed project has some nematodes species in common with other projects which should contribute to the usefulness of research findings of all involved.NE-171 (Northeastern Region Technical Committee): Biologically based IPM systems for management of plant-parasitic nematodes. Objectives 1. Evaluate the effects of rotational crops, organic amendments and host crop genetics on nematode community structure. 2. Characterization of biological control agents for suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes. 3. Comparison and evaluation of IPM system management of plant-parasitic nematodes based on crop rotation, organic amendments, host crop resistance and biological control agents. Members of the NC 215 project have conducted cooperative research in the regional project as well as projects funded by North Central Soybean Research Program. In conjunction with our annual meetings we have participated for the last 4 years in a workshop at the close of the business meeting. These workshops have been varied from several hours duration to one day in length and have covered topics of interest to the group.
Cyst nematode identification workshop 2000
Dorylaim workshop 2001
Standardization of procedures for extraction of soybean cyst nematode 2002
Identification of Freeliving Nematodes (Secrenentea) 2003
Objectives
- Determine the impact of management strategies on nematode communities of regionally important nematodes
- Evaluate the effects of specific biological and ecological processes on communities of regionally important nematodes.
