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First Report of Pratylenchus fallax on Turfgrass in Ontario

During 1995 and 1997 surveys of golf courses throughout southern Ontario for plant parasitic nematodes, one Pratylenchus sp. with a heavily sclerotized cephalic area, lip region with three annules, females with spermatheca full of sperms, and crenate tail was found in 13 of 14 soil samples taken from fairways. Males were also found in the samples. Monoxenic cultures of the nematode were established on excised corn roots, each culture started from a single mature female. In cultures, males were common, averaging about one male per five females. Following a comparative microscope study of about 50 specimens (20 measured), the species was identified as Pratylenchus fallax Seinhorst, 1968. Bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) was the main type of grass in the fairways surveyed. P. fallax may cause significant damage to turfgrass by directly destroying the roots, and the wounded roots become vulnerable to secondary infection by soilborne pathogens (1). The nematode has been found once in Quebec, Canada, in 1976 (2). This is the first report of Pratylenchus fallax in Ontario.

References: (1) S. G. Fushtey and F. D. McElroy. Can. Plant Dis. Surv. 57:54, 1977. (2) P. W. Willis et al. Plant Dis. Rep. 60:207, 1976.