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Tobacco Nematode Survey in Tattnall and Candler Counties in Georgia

Applied Research

Aubrey Shirley
County Extension Agent
University of Georgia
Reidsville

Abstract

Soil borne pests can be some of the most difficult pests to control. These pests include a wide array of fungal, bacterial, nematode and insect species. Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) are microscopic worms that feed and reproduce in plant root tissue and severely impact yield, causing economic losses. Nematode surveys of tobacco fields have not been completed in over 40 years and updating knowledge of PPN species diversity in Georgia tobacco fields is important. The invasive and aggressive guava root nematode (Meloidogyne enterolobii) has been recently detected in Tattnall and Echols Counties and understanding the distribution of these pests is critical. In the fall of 2023, sampling was conducted between first and second tobacco harvest by Extension agents serving tobacco growing counties of Georgia. Sampling was conducted by randomly walking throughout each field collecting soil cores from 15 to 20 sampling points and a composite of three to four liters of soil were collected for each sample. Root-knot nematodes (RKN) were the most abundant and commonly found nematodes in Georgia’s tobacco fields, including the fields surveyed in Candler and Tattnall Counties. These nematodes are considered the most aggressive group of PPN in the world. The highest density of RKN detected in the survey were 1,460 nematodes per 100 cc of soil. Whereas, the highest density of RKN in Candler and Tattnall counties were 1,314 and 765 nematodes, respectively. Of the remaining species collected in the state, reniform nematodes had the second highest population density in a field. However, only one field in Colquitt County was found to be infested with this nematode in our survey. The most destructive and important PPN population in Georgia tobacco fields are RKN populations. According to previous literature, these appear to be the most economically important nematode affecting tobacco to date. 

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted only for display at AM/PIC. Poster is not to be judged, but the abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: Aubrey Shirley, Joshua Dawson, Derrick Bowen, Tony Barnes, Ross Greene, James Jacobs, Holly Anderson, Jennifer Miller, Justin Shealey, Ben Reeves
  1. Shirley, A. County Extension Agent, University of Georgia, Georgia, 30453
  2. Dawson, J. Lowndes County ANR Agent, Fort Valley State University, Georgia, 31603
  3. Bowen, D. Tattnall County ANR Agent, University of Georgia, Georgia, 30453
  4. Barnes, T. Atkinson County ANR Agent, University of Georgia, Georgia, 31642
  5. Greene, R. Evans County ANR Agent, University of Georgia, Georgia, 30417
  6. Jacobs, J. Pierce County ANR Agent, University of Georgia, Georgia, 31516
  7. Anderson, H. Irwin County ANR Agent, University of Georgia, Georgia, 31774
  8. Miller, J. Jeff Davis ANR Agent, University of Georgia, Georgia, 31539
  9. Shealey, J. Echols County ANR, University of Georgia, Georgia, 31648
  10. Reeves, B. Berrien County ANR Agent, University of Georgia, Georgia, 31639