April 1999 Volume 30 (1)

Forest Robinson who represents ONTA with Renato Crozzoli on the council of the International Federation of Nematology Societies (IFNS) informs that the selection process for choosing the site for the 4th International Nematology Congress (FINC) has been completed. Forest sends the following report:
On March 23, 1999, Renato Crozzoli and I received notification from Ken Barker (President of the International Federation of Nematology Societies IFNS) that Tenerife in the Canary Islands has been selected as the site of the Fourth International Nematology Congress (FINC). Here are some details of the site selection process.
During 1997 and early 1998, guidelines for evaluating site proposals were developed by the IFNS Council. These guidelines assigned numeric scores to air fare, lodging, meeting facilities, etc. During 1998, all presidents of the 13 participating scientific societies were invited to submit site proposals. A Site Selection Committee within the IFNS Council was appointed by Ken Barker, and Thierry Vrain was elected as Chairman of the Committee. The Committee used the site proposal guidelines to evaluate the proposals received. The best four proposals were then submitted for consideration by the Council at large.
In a first ballot during January, 1999, the 19 IFNS Councilors were asked to vote for one of the following sites: Tenerife in the Canary Islands (proposed by the European Society of Nematologists and formally supported by ONTA); San Diego, U.S.A. (proposed by the Society of Nematologists); New Delhi, India (proposed by the Nematological Society of India); and Sun City, South Africa (proposed by the Nematological Society of Southern Africa). Tenerife and Sun City received the greatest numbers of votes in the first ballot but neither received more than 50% of the votes. Therefore, Councilors were asked to vote for either Tenerife or Sun City on a second ballot during February-March. Ultimately, 10 votes were received for Tenerife, 8 for Sun City, and one Councilor abstained.
At each step during the voting process, Renato Crozzoli and I conferred with the Executive Committee of ONTA to keep them abreast of developments and confirm that our votes, in each case for Tenerife, were in the best interests of ONTA. – Forest Robinson and Renato Crozzoli, IFNS Councilors from ONTA.

ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS AND NEMATOLOGICAL WEB SITES

George Bird and Bill Mai inform that historical data relative to the Science of Plant Nematology are available at the Web site http://nematode.msu.edu/nematology .This Web site was developed by George Bird and Bill Mai by obtaining historical information from retired Plant Nematologists (including himself) and from the records of the major Nematological Societies.

A Glossary of Plant Nematology and Related Terms was prepared and made available on CD-RM by Jonathan D. Eisenback. This electronic publication updates and compliments the old Glossary of Nematological Terms published by Field Caveness in 1964-1974. Additionally, it contains terms from the disciplines of botany, ecology, microbiology, microscopy, molecular biology, plant pathology, soils, and taxonomy. The electronic glossary can be obtained from CABI Publishing, CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 8DE, U.K., FAX:44-01491-829292; e-mail:publishing@cabi.org or in the United States, from USA CABI Publishing, CAB International 10 East 40th Street, Suite 3203, New York, NY 10016 for L50 (about $80). Other useful electronic publications developed by J. Eisenback are the Root-Knot Nematode Taxonomic Database and the Cyst Nematode CD (available late this year), which are both available from CAB International at L90 (about $144) each for individuals and at L195 (about $ 312) each for institutions
Donna Ellengton and Zafar Handoo from US Department of Agriculture, ARS, Nematology Laboratory, in Beltsville Maryland, U.S.A. inform that the United States Department of Agriculture Nematode Collection (USDANC) Database is now available on the World Wide Web (http://www.nem.barc.usda.gov./database/search.cfm). “This database contains over 19,000 records representing 555 nematode genera and 1,670 nematode species on 800 plant host species. Individual collectors number 3,000, and the collection includes samples gathered from 180 countries. In addition, 180 insect hosts are represented by specimens in the Collection.
A user can search the database by inputting one or more search criteria; these include the scientific or common name of the host plant, the name of the nematode genus or species, a U.S. state, a country name, the individual collector, the year the specimen was received. The Collection includes 100-year-old mounted specimens collected by pioneer workers; one such specimen is N. A. Cobb’s original 1890 material of a predaceous Mononchus longicaudatus. Also accessible are the Type Collection records, which include designated type specimens of over 1,400 species giving the dates the types were deposited in the type section of the USDANC.
The USDA Nematode Collection was officially established by A. Morgan Golden in 1960. Today, the Collection is one of the largest and most valuable international resources of information for taxonomic research on systematics, morphology, and identification of soil and plant-parasitic nematodes.
The USDA Nematode Collection and its database are under the care of the Nematology Laboratory at Beltsville, Maryland. The database was developed and is maintained by Zafar A. Handoo (nematax@asrr.arsusda.gov) and Donna Ellington (delling@asrr.arsusda.gov).”

NEMATOLOGY BOOKS AND JOURNALS
POTATO CYST NEMATODES, BIOLOGY, DISTRIBUTION AND CONTROL

A comprehensive review of the scientific research conducted on potato cyst nematodes (Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida) in the potato growing areas of the world was prepared by R. J. Marks and B.B. Brodie and published by CAB International. The two editors combined in this book 19 chapters written by nematologists specialized on potato cyst nematodes in different countries where these two pests are present. All aspects of biology, detection, identification, and management of potato cyst nematodes in different areas of the world are well presented and examined in detail. Exclusionary programs and quarantine restrictions against these two pests are also discussed. A chapter of the book is devoted to the economic importance of the potato cyst nematodes in Latin America where these nematodes co-evolved with solanaceous hosts. This book is an excellent source of information on potato cyst nematodes for agricultural specialists involved in management of potato pests, agronomists, students, and researchers. It can be obtained from CAB International, Willingford, Oxon OX10 8De, UK or 10E 40th Street, Suite 3203, New York, NY 10016, USA for about $122.

JOURNAL OF NEMATODE MORPHOLOGY AND SYSTEMATICS

We would like to inform ONTA members interested in nematode classification that volume 1 (in two issues) (1998) of the Journal of Nematode Morphology and Systematics has been published. This new Journal provides essential information for nematologists involved in studies on classical and molecular taxonomy, systematics, morphology, geographical distribution, and related aspects of nematode classification. The Journal contains articles written in English with English and Spanish summaries and is published by the University of Jaèn in Spain. The editor-in-chief, R. Peña-Santiago, has gathered an outstanding editorial board which includes specialists in different sectors of nematode taxonomy and systematics from several parts of the world. For more information about this Journal, contact the editor-in-chief, R. Peña-Santiago, Departamento de Biología Animal, Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaèn, Parje “Las Lagunillas” s/n, edificio No. 5 Despacho 5309, 23071 Jaèn Spain. E-mail:rpena@ujaen.es

MERGER AND NEW JOURNAL

In January 1999, it was officially announced by the Academic Publishers BRILL the merger of the two journals Nematologica and Fundamental and Applied Nematology in a new Journal titled Nematology, International Journal of Fundamental and Applied Nematology. This new journal is published in 8 annual issues and is co-edited by Pierre Baujard and Roger Cook. Special introductory offers are available for new subscribers. The institutional subscription price for Nematology is $ 511 which includes postage and packing. ONTA members can obtain a discount of 40% off the institutional subscription rate. For more information contact Academic Publishers, BRILL, Customer Services Department, P.O. Box 9000, 2300 PA Leiden, The Netherlands; FAX: 31-071-5317532; e-mail:cs@brill.nl or in the United States at 112 Water Street, Suite 400, Boston MA 02109; FAX:1-617-263-2324; e-mail:brillusa@compuserve.com

ONTA HOMEPAGE

Jimmy Rich, member of the ONTA Homepage Committee, informs that the ONTA Homepage (http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~onta/ontaweb.htm) has been updated recently and given a new look. Information was added also concerning the ONTA/APS-CD Joint Meeting in Puerto Rico. Suggestions and comments about the new version of the ONTA Homepage are greatly appreciated.
Members of the ONTA Homepage Committee are Roberto Vargas (Chairman), Department of Crop Protection, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez Campus, P.O. Box 9030, Mayaguez, PR 00681-9030, USA. Tel: 1-787-265-3859; FAX:1-787-265-0860;
e-mail: r_vargas@rumac.upr.clu.edu Aurelio Ciancio, Istituto Nematologia Agraria, CNR, via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy. Tel. 39-080-5484189; FAX:39-080-5484165;e-mail: e085ac01@area.ba.cnr.it Soledad Verdejo-Lucas, IRTA, Depto.Patologia Vegetal, Carretera de Cabrils s/n, 08348 Cabrils, Barcelona, Spain; Tel.34-37-507511; FAX: 34-37-533954; e-mail:verdejo@cabrils.irta.es and Jimmy Rich University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center, Route 3, Box 4370, Quincy FL 32351-9529, USA. Tel:1-850-875-7130; FAX:1-850-875-7148; e-mail jrich@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu

ONTA NEWSLETTER AS E-MAIL ATTACHMENT

In order for ONTA to save mailing costs, and in an effort to make information available quicker, the ONTA Newsletter can be sent as an attachment to your e-mail address. To enable rapid electronic transmission, the Newsletter contains no graphics. It can be sent in either WordPerfect or MSWord format. Please advise the newsletter editor if you wish to receive the Newsletter as an attachment. Specify which format you prefer, and indicate whether you want the English or Spanish version.
ONTA Newsletter Editors are Renato N. Inserra, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant industry, Nematology Section, P.O. Box 147100, Gainesville FL 3214-7100, USA. Tel: 1-352-372-3505, Ext. 115; FAX:1-352-955-2301 or 2300;e-mail: julia@nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu or Julia A. Meredith, P.O. Box 140357, Gainesville FL 32614-0357, USA; e-mail: julia@nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu

ONTA OFFICERS LIST

ONTA Officers are the same as reported in the ONTA Newsletter 29(2). If you need a copy of this information, please contact the Newsletter Editors at the addresses given above.

OBITUARY
RICHARD SAYRE
(1928-1998)

As reported in the previous issue of ONTA Newsletter, Richard Sayre and his wife Diane died during a tragic accident while they were touring the Galapagos Islands on June 10, 1998. The following obituary is a condensed version of that published by David Chitwood and Susan Meyer in the SON Newsletter.
Richard Sayre received a B.S. in Biology and a M.S. in Botany from Oregon State University, and a Ph.D in Plant Pathology from the University of Nebraska. After working as a nematologist with the Canadian Department of Agriculture at the Experiment Station in Harrow Ontario, Richard went to work for the US Department of Agriculture, in Beltsville Maryland, as a Research Plant Pathologist, position that he maintained until he retired in 1995. He was involved in cryobiological studies to preserve nematodes in cryoprotective media. However, Richard Sayre is well known mainly for his research on antagonist agents of plant-parasitic nematodes. He was able to elucidate the role of amoebae, tardigrades, turbellarians, predacious nematodes, and mites in suppressing nematode populations in the soil. He was one of the world’s leading authorities on the biology and classification of the nematode-parasitic bacteria of the genus Pasteuria. His work on Pasteuria species represents a milestone for all the subsequent research conducted on Pasteuria spp. Richard Sayre was well respected and admired for his intelligence, scholarship, and vision. He, however, was appreciated greatly for his kindness and generosity. He was always ready to assist colleagues or students by providing biological control specimens and useful suggestions for biological control projects.
This editor (R. N. Inserra) had the fortune to meet Richard Sayre in his Laboratory in Beltsville and to obtain very useful advice relating to research projects on biological control. His enthusiasm and strong desire to inspire interest in biological control agents of nematodes and also his unselfish attitude were the most touching qualities of this great scientist.

OBITUARY
CARLOS SOSA-MOSS
(1936-1999)

We are sorry to inform ONTA members that Carlos Sosa-Moss, distinguished professor and experienced nematologist, passed away on March 2, 1999, in Mexico, due to complications of leukemia. The following obituary was prepared by Rosa Manzanilla-López and Zoraida Suárez H.
Carlos Sosa-Moss was born in Juchitepec, Mexico. He received a degree as Ingeniero Agronomo, specialty Parasitology, at the National Agricultural School in 1961; a M. S. in Agricultural Sciences, specialty Entomology, from the Postgraduate College in Chapingo, Mexico,in 1963, and a Ph.D. in Natural Sciences at the University of Paris, Paris, France, in 1966. In 1967, after completion of his doctorate studies in France, Carlos became President of the Entomology Section of the Postgraduate College in Chapingo, Mexico, and was involved in teaching and directing research projects for Master and Ph.D. students. In 1975, he assumed the position of President of the Phytopathology Section of the same College. During 1980-81, Carlos pursued postdoctoral research at the Plant Pathology Department of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
In 1990, he transferred to the new Genetic Center in Chapingo. He gave courses on fundamental and applied nematology, including nematode morphology and ecology. The manuals and text books that he wrote in Spanish for his teaching and extension activities are still used in Mexico and in other Latin America Universities. Many nematologists in Latin America were trained by Carlos who promoted studies in Agricultural Nematology not only in Mexico, but also in Central and South America. He conducted excellent research work in Plant Nematology, especially on cyst-forming nematodes (Heteroderinae), collaborating with eminent specialists on cyst-forming nematodes such as A. Stone, R. Mulvey, L. I. Miller, and D. Mugnieri. During these studies, a new cyst-forming nematode (Punctodera chalcoensis), which is a serious pest of corn, was described in Mexico. Carlos Sosa-Moss was the founder of nematology in Mexico. He was an active member of ONTA since the beginning of the organization. He participated in ONTA meetings held in the seventies and early eighties and was elected ONTA president in 1972-1973. In 1983, he received the ONTA Special Recognition Award. Among his many other distinctions are the Award for Civil Merit of Mexico received in 1985 and the first National Award in Plant Health in 1997. For the last 15 years he was involved in administrative work as special advisor for phytosanitary and regulatory problems at the Interamerican Institute for Agricultural Cooperation (IICA) in Mexico.
Carlos was a generous and unselfish person who spent his life teaching and guiding students and promoting studies and research in Plant Nematology in Mexico and Latin America. His leadership, initiative, and enthusiasm will be long remembered, and he will be profoundly missed by colleagues and friends.

EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF NEMATOLOGISTS
25th INTERNATIONAL NEMATOLOGY SYMPOSIUM
HERZLIYA, ISRAEL, APRIL 2-7, 2000

Registration, abstract submission, hotel accommodation forms, detailed program, and tourist information will be mailed to those persons returning the form below.
Mail form to: Prof. Daniel Orion, Department of Nematology (25th INS), The Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel
FAX: 972-3-9604180
E-mail: oriondt@post.tau.ac.il
I am interested in participating in the 25th International Nematology Symposium,
April 2-7, 2000. Please send me further information on the 25th INS.
Title (Prof., Dr. Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms., etc.) followed by first name, middle initial, family name:

Address:

Phone (include country and city codes):
FAX:_ _ E-mail:
I would like to present a paper / a poster on the topic:
Date: Signature

WHAT ARE NEMATODES?
R. P. ESSER, Nematologist
STATE OF FLORIDA, U. S. A.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Nematodes are interesting and remarkable creatures that escape the average eye and mind because of their hidden existence beneath the hide of man and beast and sheltering cloak of mother earth. They make themselves known to us in the itch we scratch or the plant that declines and dies. Yet to really know them we must use a magnifier or microscope, because most nematodes are very small, and to make things more difficult, nearly transparent.
The damage inflicted upon man, beast and plants by nematodes is measured in hunger, disease and untold billions of dollars over the years and for this reason, knowledge of their existence is important.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

A nematode is an eel-like animal resembling but not closely related to an earthworm . Most nematodes are minute – 1/50 of an inch to 1/4 of an inch long (0.5 to 6.5 mm long) – but some that live in animals attain much greater lengths.
A nematode has:
1. Digestive organs and glands
2. Reproductive structures –
male and female
3. Excretory structures
4. Muscles
5. Nerves
6. Tough cuticle (skin)
A nematode does not have:
1. Eyes, ears , or a nose
2. Blood vessels or blood
3. Hair
4. A skeleton
5. A liver, gall bladder, or lungs
6. Appendages (arms or legs)
Types of Nematodes:
Nematodes belong to the phylum Nematoda.
They are broadly grouped according to feeding habits as:
1. Animal parasites
2. Insect parasites
3. Plant parasites
4. Microbial feeders
Size Relationships:
One hundred adult lesion nematodes (plant parasite) could lie side by side inside this hyphen – About 8,000 lesion nematodes could lie on one thumbnail without overlapping.

WHERE NEMATODES ARE FOUND

Nematodes are everywhere and in almost everything: the top of the highest mountain, the bottom of the lowest valley, the most arid desert, and the most lush farmland. Nematodes are found by the teeming billions in the icy saltiness of the Arctic seas and are found (but not teeming) in hot springs. The elephant, the gnat, the whale, and the minnow – all have one to many kinds of nematodes within their bodies. Nematodes are even found inside other nematodes. Many nematodes are serious pests of man while many others are not harmful. All plants have one or more nematode pests and these plant-parasites are the focus here.

HOW NEMATODES FEED ON PLANTS

Nematodes that feed on plants have mouths equipped with a miniature hypodermic needle-like structure called a stylet. A nematode feeds on a plant by puncturing the wall of a plant cell with this stylet and sucking out the contents of the cell. Suction is induced by contractions of a muscular bulb in the esophagus of the nematode. Most nematodes that feed on plants inhabit the soil outside of the plant root and penetrate the root only with their stylets (ectoparasites). These outside root feeders always have eel-like bodies in order to move easily to new feeding sites and are usually equipped with long stout stylets so they can reach the most favorable feeding areas deep within the roots.

HOW NEMATODE FEEDING AFFECTS PLANTS

1. Nematodes cause lesions, discoloration, deformity, and in some cases,
complete devastation in the penetration and feeding areas.
2. Plants under attack by nematodes lose vigor and become unthrifty.
3. The size and quality of fruits and vegetables are reduced.
4. Nematodes cause decline, and in extreme cases, death of the plant.
5. The puncture wound left by the stylet opens the door for fungal or bacterial
invasion, which may do more damage than the nematode.

CAN A NEMATODE FEED ON ANY PLANT?

No.

Some, such as the citrus nematode, attack only very few types of plants, while others such as root-knot nematodes, feed on many different kinds of plants.

THE LIFE HISTORY OF A PLANT-PARASITIC NEMATODE
(Lesion nematode on corn)

1. A female nematode inside the corn root lays eggs in the root tissue.
2. The growing season ends, the corn dies, and inside the roots the eggs live
on.
3. Winter passes, a new growing season begins and new corn is planted over
the rotted roots containing live nematode eggs.
4. Soil and water carry substances from the new corn roots to the dormant
eggs, hatching them.
5. The newly hatched nematodes swim to the corn roots, enter, and proceed to
feed and grow to adults.
6. The new adults lay more eggs. Several generations of nematodes may
appear before the corn is ripe, constantly adding new stylets to drain away
the life of the plant.
Removal of crop residues consequently, not only reduces the insect pests that survive in such materials but also cuts down on the nematode population.

HOW NEMATODES MULTIPLY

Each female lays many eggs inside or outside the plant. These eggs have a tough shell which protects the nematode under unfavorable conditions. These eggs may lie dormant in the fallow land, sometimes for several years. Then, when the land is planted to a suitable crop for the nematodes, the eggs hatch and new populations of nematodes build up in the soil. Each succeeding year, if conditions are favorable, many more eggs are present, spreading the nematode population in ever-widening circles.

HOW CAN AN ANIMAL AS SMALL AS A NEMATODE HARM A PLANT?

Imagine a network of small rootlets surrounded on every side by a multitude of hungry hypodermic needles, each stabbing and sucking repeatedly, and by their concerted feeding action, draining away the life blood of the plant. The weakened plant declines while the nematodes fatten and multiply until by magnitude of numbers they are no longer small.

HOW NEMATODES ARRIVE IN NEW AREAS

1. Nematodes migrate into new areas on or in trains, planes, motor vehicles and
ships. Carried by man in soil, plants or plant products or by his vehicle in
mud under the fenders or in the tire treads.
2. Windstorms may disperse eggs and encysted nematodes.
3. Nematodes get along fine in water and when an area is flooded, they are
moved about.
4. Animals and insects also play a role in carrying nematodes into new areas.

ARE ALL NEMATODES ENEMIES?

No.
1. Some nematodes feed on plant-destructive nematodes, mites, and insects.
2. Other nematodes consume huge quantities of plant-damaging bacteria and
fungi.

HOW ARE SAMPLES TAKEN TO DETERMINE
THE PRESENCE OF A NEMATODE PROBLEM?

Amount of soil needed for each sample:
About 1 pint (500 ml) removed from close to the roots of the plant or
plants suspected of being nematode infested.
Amount of roots needed for each sample:
About 1 cupful (100 ml) from larger plants (trees, shrubs, etc.). The entire root
system of small plants if the plant is expendable.
Containers:
Sealed plastic bags are the best; glass jars with lids will also do the job. The
container must enclose the sample. If the soil is exposed to air, much of it
will dry out and many nematodes will die.
Taking samples:
Example 1:
A home owner sees his grass turning brown in large patches. He suspects nematodes to be the cause. Three to five samples are taken. One from the dying or dead area, one from an adjacent healthy area, and at least two on the border of the patch where the dying grass meets the green. Samples should be six to eight inches (15-20 cm) deep.
Example 2:
Some orange trees begin to decline and the owner decides to check his soil for the presence of nematodes. One sample is taken per tree, far enough out from the base of the tree to obtain small feeder roots. A hole is dug 1 to 2 feet (0.3 to 0.6 m) deep. About a cup of small feeder roots is taken from different levels in the holes and a pint jar (500 ml) is filled with soil from the sides of the hole. (Some soil should be taken from the top six inches, the middle and the bottom of the hole to fill the jar.)
Example 3:
An active garden club member notices some of her prize roses losing their healthy vigorous appearance. Being well informed, she suspects nematodes. If the rose plants are small and she has some to spare, an entire plant is removed along with a pint (500 mL) of soil from about the roots.

HOW ARE NEMATODES REMOVED FROM
LEAVES, ROOTS, OR SOIL FOR LABORATORY STUDY?

Leaves:

Leaves in water are cut to pieces in a blending machine and then washed through a series of sieves (screens). The coarse sieve separates the leaf fragments from the water. Then fine sieves separate the nematodes. The nematodes are washed from the finest sieve into a glass dish and identified under a microscope.
Roots:
Roots are washed to remove adhering soil and then placed in a sealed jar for at least three days at room temperature. After this time, the nematodes begin to leave the roots. Then the roots are flushed with water and the water with the nematodes is poured on a fine sieve which catches the nematodes. They are then washed into a glass dish and identified.
Soil:
Soil is placed in a pail which is half filled with water and vigorously stirred up. The water is then poured into another pail leaving the heavy soil sediments behind. (The nematodes are very light and slowly settle to the bottom.) Then the soil is passed through a series of fine sieves that separate the larger soil particles and the trash from the nematodes. The nematodes are then removed from the finest screen and placed in a glass dish for examination.
________________________________
This article was prepared as an introduction to nematodes, particularly plant-parasitic nematodes. WWW sites listed on the ONTA homepage may be consulted for more advanced information on plant-parasitic nematodes.