Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1969

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Plant Pathology

Abstract

In 1963, it was estimated that the cost of maintaining turf grass in the Midwestern United States was 300 to 500 million dollars per year (51). With the exception of the work of Perry (34) in Wisconsin, the role of plant parasitic nematodes in relation to turf decline in the Midwestern United States has received little study. The decline of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) turf in South Dakota is not uncommon during hot, dry periods of the summer months. Nematode injury in South Dakota may also affect yield in Kentucky bluegrass seed-producing areas. Nematode damage might also be assumed to increase maintenance costs of homeowner lawns and golf courses due to increased water and fertilizer applications necessary to maintain vigorous turf. A stylet nematode, Tylenchorhynchus nudus (Allen) has been frequently associated with Kentucky bluegrass turf in northeastern South Dakota, but its effects on turf have not been established. Stylet nematodes feed ectoparasitically and obvious damage to root systems is usually not evident, although plant growth may be reduced. Objectives of the present study were to determine the distribution of Tylenchorhynchus nudus in South Dakota, to investigate reproductive ability of T. nudus on certain grasses and to determine effects of T. nudus on growth of Kentucky bluegrass under greenhouse conditions. Influence of temperature on the reproduction and gross morphology of T. nudus was also studied. In addition, field experiments were conducted to determine the effect of nematicides treatments on the growth of turf grass and the ability of the nematicides to control nematodes in turf.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Nematoda
Grasses -- Diseases and pests

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

78

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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