Belonolaimus gracilis		Contents		Rev 10/14/08
		Classification		Hosts
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Belonolaimus Menu		Economic Importance		Damage
		Distribution		Management
Return to Belonolaimidae Menu		Feeding

Classification:

      Tylenchida
       Tylenchina
        Tylenchoidea
         Belonolaimidae
          Belonolaiminae
 	Belonolaimus gracilis

     Synonyms:
      none.

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Morphology and Anatomy:

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Distribution:

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Economic Importance:

      South-central and eastern U.S. from Virginia south to Florida (limited 
      distribution in Connecticut, New Jersey, Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama).
       

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Feeding:

      Migratory ectoparasite at root tip and along sides.  Long stylet 
      penetrates to inner cortex and endodermis; causes root tip damage, 
      resulting in reduced root system with short, stubby branches.  

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Hosts:

Wide host range: peanut, corn, cotton, tomato, squash, grasses on turf.
Note: tobacco is a non-host.

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Life Cycle:

Nematode prefers light, sandy soils.

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Damage:

Damage caused by this nematode results mainly from devitalized root tips,
and the usual symptoms are plant wilting, stubby and/or coarse roots;
necrosis and discoloration occur less frequently. Standifier (1959)
reported B. gracilis produced lesions on bean roots which extended into
the stele, destroying xylem and phloem.

Nematode also causes plants to be more susceptible to damage from Fusarium.

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Management:

1. Rotation - additional work needed in this area - rotation to tobacco, coupled with clean cultivation, reduces population of B. gracilis.

2. Soil fumigation with 1,3-Dichloropropene (Telone) and ethylene dibromide (EDB) was effective. Holdeman (year?) reported EDB fumigants was more effective than 1,3-D (then D-D mixture) for controlling sting nematode in South Carolina.

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Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: October 14, 2008.