1. 



Introduction to the plant nematode problems of Western Europe 



Altnough Western Europe has many xmportant plant parasitic nema- 

 tode species in common with the U.S.A. the situation in both regions 

 shows some differences. 



The cool climate rules out root-knot as an important disease of 

 field crops in most of the region. It has to be controlled in green- 

 houses tnough, but this is not a major problem. 



The stem nematode however is favoured by the climate and is more 

 important than in tne U.S.A. 



A few cases of attacks by ectoparasites have been reported but, 

 so far, species belonging to this group of nematodes seem to be only 

 of a local importance. 



Potato cyst eelworms (golden nematode) and beet eelwoim rank 

 first in damage caused by nematodes. 



One species has ceased to be of importance in VJestem and Central 

 Europe: the wheat gall nematode Anguina tritici . Moaem methods of 

 cleaning seed elojiiinate the galls from the seed and so ret'uce tne 

 ctiaiice of infestation of young seedlings veiy considerably. This n^via- 

 tode, whicn was tne first one knoxTn as a plant parasite and to winch 

 Shakespeare refers m "Love's Labour's Lost", now only occurs in 

 regions witn baclcward agricultural methods. 



A second group, the leaf and bud nematodes is losing ground 

 where careful roguing of strawberry planting material has become a 

 general practice and wnere cnrysanthc-iflum plants are sprayed inten- 

 sively with paratnion or related chemicals. 



The following nematode species (the grouos placed in the order of 

 their importance) cause serious losses in agriculture and horticultur'5.<^.p -, 

 in Western Europe. /^^ — ^ 



3 



/ 



S^* .>003~V^><S 



1) Cyst formmg eelworms / / ,v<r' ♦ vfl'"'**'\ < 



a. beet eelworm, Heteroaera scnachtii 



b. potato cyst eelworm (golden nematode) H. rostochienps^^ 



c. oat cyst nematode, H. major ",^ 



d. pea cyst nematode, H. goettingiana ^"- 



e. carrot cyst nematode, H. carotae 



f. cahbnge cyst nf^matodo, H. cruciforae 



2) Ste^. and bulb nolworms 



a. Dityloncnnn dipsaci, in flower bulbs, onions, r\\', oat; , 



