Integrated Pest Management of Nematodes on Bermudagrass Turf

Use of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) cultivars resistant/ tolerant to plant-parasitic nematodes is an important component of integrated pest management (IPM) for sustainable turf nematode management in sandy coastal soils of the southeastern United States. A multiyear field experiment evaluated five bermudagrass genotypes ('Tifway', standard susceptible; two commercial cultivars, 'TifSport' and 'Celebration'; and two experimental germplasm, BA132 and PI 291590, that were identified as tolerant to sting nematode [Belonolaimus longicaudatus]) and four different nematicide regimes (untreated control, Curfew Soil Fumigant [1,3-dichloropropene], monitoring-based IPM [action threshold nematicide program], and calendar-based IPM [nematicide rotation]). Nematode samples were collected at 3-month intervals from February 2012 to November 2014. No significant differences among the genotypes with regard to population density of sting nematode were documented, but there were differences among genotypes with regard to some of the other plant-parasitic nematodes, particularly spiral (Helicotylenchus paxilli) and ring (Mesocriconema ornatum) nematodes. There were significant nematicide regime responses on nematode population level after August 2013. A calendar-based IPM program rotating Nortica (Bacillus firmus strain I-1582), Multiguard Protect (furfural), MustGrow Invest (Brassica juncea), and Avid (abamectin) significantly reduced the nematode population density compared with a monitoring-based IPM program and the standard soil fumigant nematicide Curfew. In the untreated control, nematode population densities were significantly higher than in the other treatments. Celebration and PI 291590 bermudagrass genotypes had better percent green cover throughout the study.