Harnessing Nature's Science™
By Mojtaba Zaifnejad, Ph.D.
Sr. Director of Field Research and Technical Services,
Huma, Inc.
In my previous article on nematodes, I described the general topic of nonparasitic and parasitic nematodes. In this segment the focus will be on a specific plant parasitic nematode – Reniform nematodes (Rotylenchulus reniformis). We will delve into the intriguing world of reniform nematodes, exploring their feeding behavior, impact on crops, and effective management strategies. [Read more…]
By Mojtaba Zaifnejad, Ph.D.
Sr. Director of Field Research and Technical Services,
Bio Huma Netics, Inc.
During field visits, I often come across people who ask – what exactly are nematodes? More often than not, many of them associate nematodes with everything bad that happens to their crops. Is this true? We’ll get into that too, but first, what exactly are nematodes?
Nematodes are invertebrate worms that have been around for about a billion years. Some of them are beneficial, while others are parasitic or neutral. They are typically vermiform or “worm-shaped,” but some species swell to become sphere-shaped in later life stages and do not resemble typical worms. Nematodes may also vary in size—some are 26 feet long and one inch wide, and some are tiny (250 um long and 15 um wide). A shovel of soil can contain millions of nematodes. [Read more…]