- Author: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles
Published on: June 3, 2013
I recently received a call from a PCA who had questions about nematodes that infect alfalfa. He had observed stunted crop regrowth after the first cutting and had reason to think that nematodes could be the cause.
There are three nematodes that tend to be the most problematic in alfalfa. Stem nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci) is a nematode that feeds on above-ground plant parts, unlike most plant-parasitic nematodes that feed on roots. To recap a blog by Rachael Long and Dan Putnam, stem nematode symptoms include stunting, shortened internodes, and even plant death when infections are severe. It is a fairly easy pest to diagnose if...
Viewing -3--3 of 1