Development of a soil-temperature data base on Meloidogyne arenaria for a simulation model

Models for the development rate and death rate of Meloidogyne arenaria relative to temperature and time were developed to improve the predictive performance of a computer simulator. About 74% of the eggs hatched fairly rapidly, whereas the remainder hatched at a lower rate and appeared to be uninfluenced by temperature shock and root exudates. Death rates of eggs were rapid at extremes of temperature (5 and 36 C) during the first week, because of sensitivity of younger eggs, and then declined and later increased gradually with time. Death rates varied little with time at optimum temperatures for survival.