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Submitted to: Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 6/2/2003 Publication Date: 12/15/2003 Citation: Timper, P., Davis, R.F., Tillman, P.G. 2003. Reproduction of Meloidogyne incognita on winter cover crops used in cotton production [abstract]. Journal of Nematology. 35(4):367. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Traditionally, small grains such as wheat and rye are planted as a winter cover before cotton in Georgia. However, there is growing interest in legumes because they contribute nitrogen to the subsequent crop and because they provide habitat and a food source (nectar) for beneficial insects. The objectives of this study were to determine reproduction of Meloidogyne incognita on rye and various legume cover crops in the greenhouse, and determine the effect of these same cover crops on nematode populations in the field and yield of the following cotton crop. In the greenhouse experiment, pots were inoculated with 8,000 eggs and reproduction assessed after 8 weeks. Crimson clover, berseem clover, and hairy vetch were good hosts for M. incognita, producing over 90,000 and 125,000 eggs in the first and second trial, respectively. Rye cv. Wrens Abruzzi, vetch cv. Cahaba White, and red clover cv. Cherokee were relatively poor hosts for nematode reproduction. Rye and Cahaba vetch produced less than 10% of the eggs of hairy vetch whereas Cherokee red clover produced 14 to 25% of the eggs of hairy vetch. In the field experiment, the cover crops grew poorly because of cool temperatures after planting in the fall. Cotton was strip planted into the cover crops in the spring. In most cases, cover crop had very little effect on nematode damage to cotton. Only hairy vetch cv. AU Early Cover caused more galling (0-10 index) on cotton than occurred in fallow plots (3.5 vs 1.2). Cotton yields were also lower in AU Early hairy vetch (701 lbs lint/acre) than in fallow plots (933 lbs lint/acre). |
