Parasitism of Woody Ornamentals by Meloidogyne hapla

Meloidogyne hapla is the dominant root-knot nematode found in Tennessee woody ornamental nurseries. In greenhouse tests, M. hapla produced galls and formed egg masses on roots of Abelia x grandiflora, Comus florida, Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora, Photinia x fraseri, Spiraea x bumalda, Spiraea x vanhouttei, and Viburnum carlesii. Galls on H. grandiflora and V. carlesii were mostly large and fusiform. Galls on C. florida were spherical and usually terminal, whereas those on the other species were minute. Lateral roots grew from galls on all susceptible plants. Two Acer spp., two Buxus spp., three llex spp., five Prunus spp., three Rhododendron spp., Euonymus alata, Ligustrum sinense, Magnolia x soulangiana, Nandina domestica, and nine conifer species were nonhosts or very poor hosts.