Longidorus elongatus

Longidorus elongatus	Contents	Rev 09/28/2008
Needle Nematode	Classification	Hosts
	Morphology and Anatomy	Life Cycle
Return to Longidorus Menu	Economic Importance	Damage
	Distribution	Management
Return to Longidoridae Menu	Feeding	References
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Classification:

      Dorylaimida
       Dorylaimina
        Dorylaimoidea
         Longidoridae
          Longidorinae
           Longidorus elongatus

Morphology and Anatomy:

Nematode is 4.5-6.4 mm long.

G = male spicules; N = male tail; H = vulva; J-M = juvenile tails; Other drawings are of females

Distribution:

Temperate regions; Britain, Europe, Canada, New Zealand, and U.S.

Hosts:

Strawberry, rye grass, carrots, peppermint.

Life Cycle:

Nematode prefers coarse, well-drained soils.

Damage:

Feeding causes galling of root tips and stunting of root system.


Lolium perenne (rye grass) healthy root tip. Photographs from Griffiths and Robertson (1984)	Lolium perenne root tip feeding site of L. elongatus (f) and surrounding cells with irregular nuclei (an).	Lolium perenne root tip feeding site of L. elongatus after withdrawal of cytoplasm.

L. elongatus transmits raspberry ringspot and tomato blackring viruses. L. leptocephalus, L. attenuatus, L. elongatus, Trichodorus spp. and viruses are involved in Docking Disorder of sugarbeets (named for Docking region in south of England); virus is carried on the inner surface of the stylet guiding sheath.

Stunted growth in spring due to nematode feeding; virus symptoms in foliage. Effects are most pronounced in spring, heavy rainfall in May seems to increase the problem. In July the affected plants start to grow again and may achieve almost normal foliage, but a much reduced tap root.

The severity of Docking Disorder varies from year to year with the climate.

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Management:

Crop Rotation

Management of Docking Disorder by rotation is difficult as several nematode species are involved, each with a differing host range. Also host ranges of these nematodes are not completely known. Efficient rotation might be worked out on a local base according to the species present, but the prospects are not favorable because most of the species present are polyphagous.

Nematicides

1,3-Dichloropropene (1,3-D) nematicide (400 lb/acre or 50 lb/acre on peppermint) applied in the plant row prior to planting reduces the nematode populations and increases yield, but only in well-drained alkaline soils. The treatment is not always effective at economically feasible rates (need high-value crops for cost-effective treatment).