First Report of the Sting Nematode Belonolaimus longicaudatus on Soybean in Delaware

In late July of 2005, several, large, irregular areas of severely chlorotic, stunted, and dead soybean plants were observed in two fields of soybean (Glycine max), 8.05 km apart, in sandy soil (94% sand, 2% silt, and 4% clay) in southwestern Sussex County, DE. The grower also had observed stunted corn the previous year in the same areas and thought the fields had a fertility problem. The morphology of adults and molecular analyses of the juveniles isolated from soil samples established the identity of the species as the sting nematode, Belonolaimus longicaudatus (1-4). The population density was 216 nematodes per 250 cm³ of soil. Morphological characters used for identification included female body, stylet and tail length, shape of head, stylet knobs, tail and tail terminus, number of lines in the lateral field, and vulva percentage in relation to body length. The male characters critical for identification were the following: body, stylet, spicule, and gubernaculum length; shape of head and stylet knobs; and number of lines in the lateral field. Measurements of females (n = 5) included body length (range = 2,035 to 2,120 μm, mean = 2,073.7, standard deviation [SD] = 37.0), stylet (117.0 to 127.5, 123.4, 4.5), V% (48.4 to 52.3, 50.6, 1.5), and tail (109 to 140, 120, 14.2). The lateral field had one incisure. Shape of head, stylet knobs, and tail were also consistent with B. longicaudatus. Males (n = 4) were characterized by the body length (range = 1,500 to 2,070 μm, mean = 1,753.3, SD = 290.2), stylet (117.0 to 127.5, 121.5, 5.4), spicules (41 to 50, 47, 5.2), and gubernaculum (17.0 to 18.5, 17.8, 0.8). Molecular diagnosis as B. longicaudatus was confirmed by sequencing two ribosomal DNA markers from three juveniles. Sequence of the internal transcribed spacer region ITS1 and 2 (GenBank Accession No. GQ896549) from this population was 99% identical to Florida isolate BlCi6 (DQ672368), and the 28S large ribosomal subunit D2-D3 expansion region (GQ896548) was 99% identical to Florida isolate BlCi4 (DQ672344). A high degree of similarity (>98%) was also shared by several other B. longicaudatus sequences (1). This detection represents a new state record in Delaware for B. longicaudatus. Since this detection in 2005, there have been no new reports of other observations of sting nematode or spread from these two fields tilled by the same farm operator in Delaware. Elsewhere, B. longicaudatus is known to occur in subtropical regions of the lower coastal plain, from Virginia to Florida and along the Gulf Coast into Texas. On the east coast, USDA Nematode Collection records document this nematode from Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, and South Carolina. Within Delaware, another sting nematode species, Belonolaimus maritimus, was detected on American beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) and bitter panicgrass (Panicum amarum var. amarulum) from Fenwick Island, near the Maryland border. Sting nematodes have also been reported in Burlington County, NJ. References: (1) U. Gozel et al. Nematropica 36:155, 2006. (2). H.-R. Han et al. Nematropica 36:37, 2006. (3) G. J. Rau. Proc. Helminthol. Soc. Wash. 25:95, 1958. (4) G. J. Rau. Proc. Helminthol. Soc. Wash. 30:119, 1963.